The Associated Press reports:
As the death toll from a wildfire that razed a historic Maui town reached 93, authorities warned Saturday that the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. It’s already the deadliest U.S. wildfire for over a century.
Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said. “We’ve got an area that we have to contain that is at least 5 square miles and it is full of our loved ones,” noting that the death toll is likely to grow and “none of us really know the size of it yet.”
Pelletier said identifying the dead is extremely challenging because “we pick up the remains and they fall apart … When we find our family and our friends, the remains that we’re finding is through a fire that melted metal.”
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The death toll from a wildfire that razed a historic Maui town has reached 93 as authorities warned the effort to find and identify the dead was still in its early stages. https://t.co/t89VcUBX9o
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 13, 2023
The wildfire that tore through Lahaina, HI is now the deadliest wildfire in the last 100 years – the death toll currently stands at 89. The Camp Fire in Paradise, CA held that ominous title with 88 deaths, until today. @weatherchannel continues live coverage on Maui. pic.twitter.com/50TBpI4bz2
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) August 13, 2023
JUST IN: Maui County officials announced in an update that the death toll climbed to 93, with only two of the victims identified. https://t.co/4dxobiBZd4
— The Hill (@thehill) August 13, 2023