A mobile refrigerated morgue was rushed to Lahaina on Monday. Officials are trying to keep the bodies cool so they can begin the identification process.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said that the fire damage has been so massive that each recovered body needs to be identified through DNA testing.
So far only about 3% of Lahaina, where most of the bodies were found, has been searched. — At the time of the fires there were 13,000 residents. And with everything burned to the ground, it’s not possible to know how many people made it out safely.
In an update from Maui County, they warn although most of the fires have been somewhat contained two fires are still burning. This includes the one that reduced Lahaina’s neighborhoods to piles of ash and debris.
At least 10,000 acres have been burned.
Deadly Wildfires result in Chaos
Matt Robb, co-owner of the Dirty Monkey bar, called attention to the dire circumstances and questioned the capability of authorities to handle the crisis effectively. And points out the lack of Federal responders.
