Photo credit: Count of Maui

Hawaii officials have recently unveiled a list containing 388 names of individuals initially thought to be missing in the wake of the devastating fire that ravaged Maui's historic resort town of Lahaina over two weeks ago.

The list was compiled by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). However, shortly after its release, the FBI reported that over 100 individuals on the list or their family members had stepped forward to confirm their safety.

Steven Merrill, the FBI's special agent in charge in Honolulu, emphasized that the list of 388 is just a portion of a larger compilation and emphasized that there are still hundreds of names requiring further clarification. Merrill expressed gratitude for those who have contacted authorities to provide information about their status, highlighting that as individuals are accounted for, it allows for increased attention on those who remain unaccounted for.

Concurrently, Maui County has taken legal action against Hawaiian Electric, filing a lawsuit on the grounds of alleged negligence in failing to deactivate power lines despite being forewarned about their potential role in exacerbating the spread of the wildfire.