“You need to do a quick DNA [testēšana], to identify the dead. Each of these 89 are John and Jane Doe [sākotnēji neidentificētētas personas],” he said.
“None of us really understand yet how many dead there really are.”
Jeremy Greenberg, a senior official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told the BBC that additional support was being sent to the islands, including search and rescue services and fire crews.
“The absolute number one priority is the safety of the survivors,” he said.
On August 12, hundreds of evacuees continued to gather at the emergency shelter at the Maui War Memorial Complex, receiving food, toiletries and medical assistance from an ever-growing number of volunteers.
PHOTO: Hawaii was hit by the deadliest US fire of the last century
More than 2,000 buildings are believed to have been damaged or destroyed since the fires broke out. Most of them were homes in Lahaina County.
The main road to Lahaina, the Honoapiilani Highway, was briefly reopened to residents on Saturday before being quickly closed again.
Hundreds of Lahaina residents have remained in line on the highway anyway, hoping to be let through.
Another route, the Kahekili Highway, is open, but locals say it’s too dangerous to try to drive on it.
The road is barely wide enough for one car, has many turns and a steep descent.
2023-08-13 13:55:13
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