More than 100 survivors have come forward in the wake of officials releasing the names of nearly 400 people who were unaccounted for following the Maui wildfires.
The Associated Press reports the FBI confirmed on Friday that officials have successfully contacted 100 people who were previously confirmed missing, just days after Maui Country published a list of 388 names. Of the 388 listed, officials said it's unclear how many of those are children.
“We’re very thankful for the people who have reached out by phone or email,” FBI Honolulu Division Special Agent Steven Merrill said in a news conference. “As we get someone off of a list, this has enabled us to devote more resources to those who are still on the list.”
Merrill added, “They were… reported to be safe and sound. Again, we don't take that for granted. We still understand there are hundreds more that we’re still looking for and we will not stop until we find those people.”
Related Stories
At Least 89 Dead in Maui Wildfires With Toll Expected to Rise, Now Deadliest Wildfire in Over 100 Years (UPDATE)
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier informed press, "We don't know how many people are dead...we just don't know."
Tourists Drive Minivan Into Hawaii Harbor After Following GPS Directions
Two tourists drove their minivan into a boat harbor in Hawaii after their GPS directed them to do so. They had to be rescued by witnesses who were on the dock.
Evacuation Order Announced After Large Industrial Fire Breaks Out in Indiana
The large industrial fire broke out at a warehouse being used for recycling-related storage, officials said. Residents were urged to evacuate.
Of course, though the news is encouraging, at least 115 people have already been confirmed dead in one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history, with thousands more still unaccounted for.
"This is unprecedented," Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said earlier this week. "No one has ever seen this that is alive today. Not this size, not this number, not this volume — and we're not done."
Meanwhile, since the tragedy impacted Hawaii earlier this month, an additional 1,732 individuals who were initially reported as missing were determined to be alive.
