Mayor Richard Bissen said on Monday in a Facebook post that over 800 people were still missing after the Aug. 8 wildfires that burned approximately 2,000 hectares on the island of Maui in the US state of Hawaii.
Tens of thousands of residents and visitors were forced to evacuate the island, and 90% of the historic city of Lahaina was decimated because of the fire.
Lahaina was known as both a tourist destination on Maui, as well as the historic seat of the original Hawaiian Royal Family before Hawaii became a US state in 1959.
Cadaver dogs and rescue personnel have combed 85% of Lahaina’s burned wreckage for victims, and officials say the death toll is sure to grow.
US President Joe Biden is set to visit the island with First Lady Jill Biden on Monday. This is the deadliest wildfire in the US since 1918, when 453 people lost their lives in the Cloquet Fire in the northern part of the US state of Minnesota.