Official Count Lowered After DNA Testing, But Toll Could Rise

WAILUKU, Hawaii – Authorities in Hawaii have revised the death toll from the devastating Maui wildfires, announcing that at least 97 people have lost their lives. This figure is a significant adjustment from the previously reported estimate of 115 fatalities. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier also stated that the number of individuals still missing has decreased from 41 to 31.

During a press conference on Friday afternoon, John Byrd, the laboratory director with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, cautioned that the current death toll should be considered a minimum count, as it remains possible that this number could increase.

Determining the accurate death toll from the wildfires that ravaged Lahaina on August 8 has proven exceptionally challenging due to the extensive damage caused by the fires and the chaotic evacuation efforts. Officials have revealed that in some instances, animal remains were mistakenly collected alongside human remains.

To date, 74 of the deceased have been positively identified, according to Chief Pelletier. The Lahaina wildfire incident stands as the deadliest in the United States in over a century. Trapped in a nightmarish scenario, some residents tragically perished in their vehicles, while others sought refuge in the ocean or attempted to flee on foot. The devastating blaze reduced a significant portion of the historic town to ashes.

John Byrd explained that the initial death toll was inflated for various reasons. He noted that the adjustment in numbers is a natural progression in the ongoing forensic investigation. Byrd stated, “We look at body bags that come in, and we do an initial inventory and assess how many people are represented there. When you do the first tally of all those that have come in, the number tends to be too high because, as you begin to do more analysis and examination, you realize that you’ve got two bags that were the same person or you have two bags that were the same two people, but you didn’t realize that.”

He added, “The numbers start a little too high on the morgue side and eventually settle until at some point it’s going to be a final accurate number. I would say we’re not quite there yet.”

Authorities expressed relief at gaining a clearer understanding of the number of casualties and the remaining individuals unaccounted for in the wake of the August 8 blaze. Maui Police Chief Pelletier shared, “For the very first time … we legitimately have a chance to identify every single person we lost and to reunite them with their family. And so in the midst of all this tragedy, there’s a little ray of hope right there, and so that really is incredible.”