Over 1,000 individuals remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of a wildfire that swept through Lahaina, a town in Hawaii, two weeks ago, as stated by officials.

Authorities are now preparing to release a list of the missing persons in the upcoming days, with the aim of narrowing down the search efforts.

Search teams scouring the debris are encountering challenges, discovering only bones or fragments of bodies, which complicates the task.

The confirmed death toll currently stands at 115.

The fires devastated a significant portion of the historic town of Lahaina on August 8, marking the worst natural disaster in the history of Hawaii.

During a press conference, FBI special agent Steven Merrill, who is overseeing the search, commented, "We may not know in the end about everybody. We're considering everybody on that list until we can prove that they're not on that list."

Out of the initial 2,500 individuals reported as unaccounted for, around 1,400 have been located. However, the precise number of the missing has been a challenge for officials to determine.

Mr. Merrill noted, "Every day the numbers will change." This latest estimate comes after Maui mayor Richard Bissen suggested the number was approximately 850 the previous day.

The exact count of presumed deceased among the 1,000-plus missing remains uncertain.

Search teams equipped with cadaver dogs have been meticulously searching the burn area for human remains. The extreme heat generated by the fire, reaching levels high enough to melt fire trucks, has complicated the efforts, leading to the discovery of only bones or fragments of bodies amidst heaps of ash.

Authorities have been appealing to family members to provide DNA samples to aid in victim identification.

DNA analysis company ANDE's Julie French shared that they have collected at least 104 DNA reference samples to date in an effort to "construct family trees or pedigrees," as she conveyed to reporters.

The Lahaina fire burned roughly 3.39 sq miles (5.45 sq km) and destroyed at least 2,200 structures, according to the BBC's partner CBS. The damage is estimated to have cost $6bn (£4.7bn).

Officials have publicly identified 13 people who died in the blaze. Among them are an avid musician, a loving grandmother, and an inspiring father.

What a great tragedy, may God help those who are doing the searching so that they can see the people missing.

Too bad

Sad