Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for on Maui more than two weeks after fast-moving wildfires erupted on the island, devastating portions of the area.
Maui County on Thursday released a validated list of 388 names compiled by the FBI of those who have been reported missing and remain unaccounted for after the Lahaina blazes.
The number represents a steep decline from the 1,000 to 1,100 the FBI estimated missing Tuesday.
As of Thursday afternoon, Maui County said more than 1,700 people who were initially reported missing had been found “safe and well.”
The death toll from the blazes is 115.
“We’re releasing this list of names today because we know that it will help with the investigation,” Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said in a statement. “We also know that once those names come out, it can and will cause pain for folks whose loved ones are listed.”
“This is not an easy thing to do, but we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make this investigation as complete and thorough as possible,” he added.
Maui County urged the public to reach out to the FBI if they know a person on the list is safe or have additional information that could help authorities locate them.
“The Maui Police Department needs the public’s help in providing information on anyone who is reported unaccounted for and whose name is on this list, but know the person can be accounted for,” the county said in a press release.
The fire that decimated the historic town of Lahaina was the deadliest fire in the U.S. in more than 100 years, with smaller fires impacting other areas of Maui. The blazes were fueled by strong winds from an offshore hurricane.