HAWAII, 16th August, 2023 (WAM) — The death toll from the Maui wildfires in Hawaii has topped 100. But only four victims have been identified, and authorities face the grim task of matching others using DNA samples, Bloomberg reported.
Forty-one relatives of the missing have given DNA samples to aid the identification effort and officials are encouraging others to follow suit, according to an update from Maui County. That work comes as Governor Josh Green said that casualties have risen to 101, from 99 previously.
Meanwhile, Hawaii and federal authorities are trying to shelter people displaced by last week’s wildfire, which destroyed most of the town of 13,000. Green said earlier that the state had secured more than 500 hotel rooms emptied of tourists last week, plus 435 vacation rentals. Airbnb, he said, would supply another 1,000 units.