Nearly two weeks after wildfires ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui, authorities are strongly encouraging the relatives of missing people to give DNA samples in efforts to identify human remains discovered in the ashes.
The plea comes after the family assistance center collected DNA from only 104 families while up to 1,100 names remain on the FBI’s tentative list of people unaccounted for following the fires, according to The Associated Press Wednesday morning.
Maui Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin, who is running the center, said the number of families providing DNA samples on the island is “a lot lower” than other areas of the U.S. in the aftermath of a major disaster.
Martin and Julie French, who is helping lead identification efforts, said DNA samples will only be used to identify victims of the fire – specifically adding that samples will not be entered into a law enforcement database and people will not be asked about their immigration status or citizenship.
MAUI MAYOR SAYS 850 PEOPLE STILL MISSING AFTER DEADLY WILDFIRES
At least 115 people have been confirmed dead and up to 1,100 are possibly unaccounted for following the wildfires that ravaged the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina in western Maui on Aug. 10, 2023. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP)
In Tuesday’s end-of-day update, the Maui Police Department confirmed 115 people are dead after teams completed the search of all single-story, residential properties in the disaster area. Out of the 115 victims, 43 have been identified, but only 21 families have been located and notified.
Approximately 391 emergency personnel – including 50 canine units – are now searching the commercial and multi-story residential properties.
As the search remains active, state officials have expressed concerns with releasing the names of those marked as missing, stating that the list would ultimately identify people who have died.
“A standard held by all law enforcement and first responders here in Hawaii, out of compassion and…
