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Children are among the 111 people confirmed dead as search and rescue teams continue to look for the remains of potentially over 1,000 individuals still missing after the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Officials have stated that this is an unprecedented disaster in terms of its scale. Approximately 38% of the burn zone has been searched so far, with authorities hoping to cover more ground by the weekend.

Identifying the victims is proving to be a challenging task as the remains are largely unrecognizable, with fingerprints rarely found. Hawaii Governor Josh Green estimates that there are still over 1,000 people unaccounted for, although the exact number is difficult to determine due to communication gaps caused by the fires.

A genetics team will be assisting in identifying the remains. Relatives of the missing have been asked to provide DNA samples, with 41 samples collected as of Tuesday. The search efforts have been expanded with the deployment of 40 canines from 15 states.

In addition to the search and rescue operations, investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires and to review the response to the emergency. Hawaiian Electric, the power company responsible for the area, is being questioned for not shutting down power lines during the dangerous fire conditions. The company that operates a sensor network on Maui claims that it detected major utility grid faults hours before the fires started.

As the community deals with the loss of homes and loved ones, many residents are actively involved in firefighting, searching for remains, and providing care to burn patients. There are heartbreaking accounts of firefighters who battled the fires while knowing that their own homes were at risk. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen reported that 25 firefighters lost their homes.

The wildfires have had a significant impact on the community, including hospital employees who have been treating patients with fire-related injuries. Maui Memorial Medical Center has treated 148 patients, including 67 with burns or smoke-related problems.

The Hawaii National Guard, with members who are also residents of the affected area, has been involved in the cleanup and search efforts, emphasizing the community-based nature of their mission. The situation remains challenging for everyone involved, and it will take time to heal the scars left by this devastating event.

The post Hawaii Wildfires: Search for Missing Continues as Death Toll Rises to 111 appeared first on ISP Today.