Two weeks after high winds swept wildfires across Maui and devastated Lahaina, the search for hundreds of missing people continues today, with a focus on destroyed or damaged multi-story buildings in the historic coastal city.
Maui officials Monday night increased the official death toll by one to 115 and said 100% of single-family homes have now been searched.
Gov. Josh Green told Hawaii News Now this morning that 87% of the entire Lahaina fire area has now been searched, but the hundreds of searchers and more than 40 cadaver dogs are now turning their attention to multi-story residential and commercial buildings, which he said are “very , very insidious sides”.
He said larger buildings require more caution and more equipment, so it will take time to complete the search.
Two weeks after the Aug. 8 firestorm, officials at the federal, state and county levels still have no official list of missing persons. Estimates have been reduced by several hundred from the “about 1,000” previously cited by government officials.
The community-organized crowdsourcing service Maui Fires People Locator this morning had 724 entries, but some entries included more than one person.
Maui police Monday identified two other victims of the deadly fires: Douglas Gloege, 59, and Juan de Leon, 45, both of Lahaina.
According to authorities, the families of 13 victims have been notified and the families of 22 other identified victims have not yet been located or notified.
The Maui Fire Department, meanwhile, said it was still battling several ongoing wildfires. MFD said the Olinda fire was 85% contained and about 1,081 acres burned; the Kula fire was 85% contained and charred 202 acres; The Lahaina fire was 90% contained after burning 2,170 acres and over 2,200 buildings.
There is no active fire risk and the bushfires are not progressing, MFD said on Monday evening in the district’s daily newspaper.
And Hawaiian Electric said Monday night that about 1,800 customers in Olowalu, Lahaina and the surrounding area were still without power. Another 50 customers are left without power in Maui’s highlands.
Hawaiian Electric said supplies needed to support the recovery are expected to arrive on Maui this week, including specialty cables for Upcountry Maui. More than 400 Hawaiian Electric employees and contractors from the other islands are on Maui to help with the restoration, the company said.
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