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Authorities in Lahaina, Hawaii are facing a daunting task as they try to determine the number of people who perished and those who may have survived but have not checked in after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century swept through the community two weeks ago. Over 800 people remain unaccounted for, leaving officials with significant challenges.

A similar situation occurred after the 2018 wildfire that devastated Paradise, California. The authorities in Butte County published a list of the missing individuals in the local newspaper, which led to the identification of many people who had made it out alive but were mistakenly listed as missing. Within a month, the number of missing dropped from 1,300 to just twelve.

Maui authorities, however, have chosen not to publicize their list due to concerns about privacy rules and the potential for further traumatizing the families of those listed as missing. As of Monday, Maui police have confirmed 115 deaths, and search and rescue teams have completed the search of single-story residential properties in the disaster area and are moving on to multi-story residential and commercial properties.

There are conflicting accounts of the total number of missing individuals. Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that over 1,000 people remained unaccounted for, while Maui Mayor Richard Bissen put the number at 850. During President Joe Biden’s visit to the area, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall estimated the number to be between 500 and 800.

The American Red Cross has been generating its own list of unaccounted-for individuals and has partnered with government agencies to aid in reunifications. They have successfully fulfilled 2,400 out of the over 3,000 requests for reunification or welfare updates received so far.

Identifying human remains and confirming the fate of those who are missing can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially after wildfires. In the Lahaina fire, it is possible that some bodies were cremated, leaving no bones for DNA identification. Debris removal and excavation can also hamper recovery efforts.

The Butte County sheriff, who dealt with the Paradise wildfire, explained that it took weeks to complete the search for remains and relied on detective work, such as visiting last known residences and contacting telecommunication companies, to locate missing individuals.

The search for the missing in Lahaina continues, and authorities are relying on thorough investigations and public outreach to provide answers for the families affected by this tragic event.

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