The number of people killed by the flames on the island of Maui rises to 115
The US authorities have acknowledged that the number of people missing from the forest fires that began two weeks ago on the Hawaiian island of Maui is unclear, due to the lack of complete data, but they put the number of people “reported missing” at a thousand. , while the confirmed deaths amount to 115.
Honolulu FBI chief Steve Merrill provided the new missing estimate just one day after the county mayor said the number of missing was around 850.
“We don’t want to leave any stone unturned, so we’re considering everyone on that list until we can prove they’re not on it,” Merrill said, stressing that the number may change as it continues to come. new information.
In addition, he has pointed out that, after days in which hundreds of search and rescue teams and dozens of sniffer dogs have worked in the burned area, they have managed to rescue around 1,400 of the 2,500 people who were initially reported as missing.
US President Joe Biden was on the fire-ravaged island on Monday, where he assessed the response of government agencies to what has been the country’s deadliest forest fire in the last century, and promised help to survivors.
The president’s initial response to the Maui wildfires drew criticism earlier this month, mainly from Republicans, who took advantage of a nearly five-day period of silence between Biden’s first comments on the fires and his next public address. the tragedy.
