Just two victims have been named so far, while the county said it has identified three more and will release the names after notifying the next of kin.
Federal officials sent a mobile morgue with coroners, pathologists and technicians to Hawaii to help identify the dead, as Maui County released the first names of people killed in the wildfire that all but incinerated the historic town of Lahaina a week ago and killed at least 106 people.
"It's going to be a very, very difficult mission," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deputy assistant secretary Jonathan Greene said."And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims." Maui Police Chief John Pelletier renewed an appeal for families with missing relatives to provide DNA samples. So far 41 samples have been submitted, the county statement said, and 13 DNA profiles have been obtained from remains.
Another complicating factor, Greene said, is that storms with rain and high winds were forecast for the weekend. Officials are mulling whether to"preemptively power down or not for a short period of time, because right now all of the infrastructure is weaker." Greene has said the flames raced as fast as a mile every minute in one area, fueled by dry grass and propelled by strong winds from a passing hurricane.
Even where the flames have retreated, authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain, including in drinking water, after the flames spewed poisonous fumes. That has left many unable to return home.
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