Josh Green (D) announced Friday.
The death toll was revised from 115 to 97 after federal fire investigators assisted local authorities in identifying remains, Green said. Green, who is a Democrat, announced the news on Friday.
The death count was revised from 115 to 97 after federal investigators helped local authorities identify remains. Green said there are currently 31 open cases that are being investigated — and only 74 of the dead have been identified.
The wildfire was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. The town of Lahaina, on Maui’s western coast, was destroyed by high winds that quickly enveloped it. The blaze caused about $5.5 billion in damage, the Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated.shared on XGreen added that over 8,000 people are in temporary housing due to the fires.
The death toll becomes more accurate over time as authorities have more time to assess remains, Defense Department lab director John Byrd said Friday. “We do an initial count and assess the number of people represented in each bag,” said Byrd. Byrd said that the numbers on the morgue’s side start out too high and then settle down until they reach a final, accurate number. “I’d say we’re still not there.” “President Biden built his entire reputation on empathy and compassion but failed to deliver an appropriate response when it mattered most.”
A separate House hearing on the fire will be held later this month.
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