Current:Home > StocksHawaii officials say DNA tests drop Maui fire death count to 97 -MoneyStream
Hawaii officials say DNA tests drop Maui fire death count to 97
View
Date:2025-04-24 19:06:06
WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Authorities in Hawaii have adjusted the number of deaths from the deadly Maui wildfires down to at least 97 people.
Previously officials said they believed at least 115 people had died in the fires, but further testing showed they had multiple DNA samples from some of those who died. The number of those who were missing also fell from 41 to 31.
John Byrd, laboratory director with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, said during a press conference Friday afternoon that the current number of dead should be considered a minimum, because it’s possible that toll could rise.
Determining the death toll from the Aug. 8 wildfires in Lahaina has been especially complicated because of the damage caused by the fire and the chaos as people tried to escape, officials said. In some cases, animal remains were inadvertently collected along with human remains.
So far, 74 of the deceased have been positively identified, said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier.
The Lahaina fire is the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.
Byrd said the initial death tally was too high for several reasons, adding that the lower tally now was the “normal and natural” progression of the long-term forensics investigation.
“We look at body bags that come in and we do an initial inventory and we assess how many people are represented there,” he said. “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 actually 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.”
“The numbers start a little too high on the morgue side and eventually settles until at some point it’s going to be a final accurate number. I would say we’re not quite there yet,” Byrd said.
veryGood! (15)
Related
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Carbon Credit Market Seizes On a New Opportunity: Plugging Oil and Gas Wells
- An Agricultural Drought In East Africa Was Caused by Climate Change, Scientists Find
- Climate Change Forces a Rethinking of Mammoth Everglades Restoration Plan
- Average rate on 30
- Score the Best Deals on Carry-Ons and Weekend Bags from Samsonite, American Tourister, TravelPro & More
- An Ohio College Town Wants to Lead on Fighting Climate Change. It Also Has a 1940s-Era, Diesel-Burning Power Plant
- Bachelor Nation's Shawn Booth Expecting First Baby
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Federal Hydrogen Program Is Cutting Out Local Groups, Threatening Climate Goals, Advocates Say
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Harry Styles’ 7 New Wax Figures Will Have You Doing a Double Take
- At Lake Powell, Record Low Water Levels Reveal an ‘Amazing Silver Lining’
- Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Mads Slams Gary Following Their Casual Boatmance
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Who Said Recycling Was Green? It Makes Microplastics By the Ton
- As Wildfire Smoke Recedes, Parents of Young Children Worry About the Next Time
- Gigi Hadid Says All's Well That Ends Well After Arrest in the Cayman Islands
Recommendation
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
Record Investment Merely Scratches the Surface of Fixing Black America’s Water Crisis
Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Mads Slams Gary Following Their Casual Boatmance
Shell Sued Over Air Emissions at Pennsylvania’s New Petrochemical Plant
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Sister Wives' Gwendlyn Brown Marries Beatriz Queiroz
Shell Sued Over Air Emissions at Pennsylvania’s New Petrochemical Plant
Australian Sailor Tim Shaddock and Dog Bella Rescued After 2 Months Stranded at Sea