The search for victims of the devastating wildfires in Maui has shifted from the land to the ocean, as officials believe they have completed the search on land. Despite a list of 388 individuals who are still unaccounted for, authorities do not expect the death toll to rise significantly in the final stages of the search. So far, 115 people have been declared dead from the fire, with 45 of them identified. The identification process has been challenging, with the coroner's physician urging people with missing relatives to submit DNA samples to aid in the process.
As of August 28, the Lahaina fire remains 90% contained, affecting an estimated 2,170 acres. The Olinda fire is 85% contained, affecting about 1,081 acres, while the Kula fire is 90% contained, impacting approximately 202 acres. Although efforts continue to completely extinguish the fires, there are no active threats among them.
The wildfires, which started on August 8, have become the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii's history. They spread rapidly due to dry conditions from the ongoing drought and powerful winds, destroying thousands of residential and commercial buildings. As authorities continue their search for victims, they are now focusing on the ocean, hoping to find any remaining individuals who may have sought refuge there.
SOURCE: ABC News, KITV, Honolulu Fire Department, Maui County Fire Department
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