Latest fatality brings Maui wildfire death toll to 100

A 78-year-old woman injured in the devastating wildfire that swept through the historic Maui, Hawaii, town of Lahaina in August has died, bringing the death toll to 100, officials said Tuesday.

The woman died Oct. 16, according to the Honolulu medical examiner’s office, The Associated Press reported. She had been flown to Oahu after the wildfire on Aug. 8, Maui police spokesperson Alana Pico said in an email to AP.

Maui police identified the woman as Sharlene Rabang, of Lahaina.

The catastrophic wildfire was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. The fire damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres, according to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). FEMA estimated the rebuilding process could cost upwards of $5 billion.

Authorities began search-and-rescue processes after the fire demolished much of the historic tourist town and warned death tolls would rise from initial counts.

They have identified 99 victims in the process, which has proved to be complicated and long. Forensic experts and cadaver dogs sifted through ash to look for bodies that were potentially cremated in the fire, the AP reported.

The youngest victim in the fire was 7 years old and the oldest was 97. Many of the residents were older than 70, residents of a low-income apartment complex for seniors.

Maui police said family members of the victims have been notified, and they will release more information if there are further updates regarding the identities of more fatalities.