Deadly Wildfire in Maui Leaves Historic Town in Ruins
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll from a devastating wildfire that swept through a historic town in Maui has risen to 93, making it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. Authorities have warned that the effort to find and identify the dead is still in its early stages.
Crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area, according to Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. The search area spans at least 5 square miles and is filled with the remains of loved ones. Pelletier stated that the number of dead is likely to increase, and the true size of the tragedy is still unknown.
Federal emergency workers have been combing through the ashen moonscape left by the fire that razed the centuries-old town of Lahaina. Teams have been marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search, and “HR” when human remains are found.
Identifying the dead has proven to be a challenging task due to the condition of the remains. Pelletier explained that the remains have been through a fire that melted metal, making it difficult to identify them. So far, only two people have been identified.
The search efforts have been accompanied by the barks of cadaver dogs, alert
How are cadaver dogs assisting in the search for human remains in the aftermath of the deadly Maui wildfire?
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A deadly wildfire in Maui has left a historic town in ruins, with the death toll now standing at 93. This makes it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. Despite efforts to find and identify the deceased, authorities warn that the task is still in its early stages.
Search teams, accompanied by cadaver dogs, have only managed to cover 3% of the search area, which spans over 5 square miles. The sheer magnitude of the tragedy is still not fully known, and authorities expect the number of dead to rise.
Federal emergency workers have been tirelessly combing through the aftermath of the fire, marking homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search and “HR” when human remains are discovered. However, identifying the deceased has proven to be a daunting task due to the extent of the fire damage. The extreme heat has melted metal, further complicating the identification process. So far, only two individuals have been identified.
Throughout the search efforts, the barks of cadaver dogs echo through the devastated landscape, a solemn reminder of the tragic toll this wildfire has taken on the historic town.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. The destruction of such a historic and beautiful town is devastating.
I can’t believe the extent of the damage. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy.