ROCHESTER, Mass. — Federal investigators released a list Friday afternoon including hundreds of people still unaccounted for following the Maui wildfire disaster.
The validated list contains 388 names the FBI says have not been heard from since August 8, the day the Lahaina wildfires began. Officials say the names are being provided to the public in an effort to help identify anyone who can be accounted for nearly 3 weeks after the disaster.
“We’re releasing this list of names today because we know that it will help with the investigation,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. “We also know that once those names come out, it can and will cause pain for folks whose loved ones are listed.”
Included in that list is Linda Vaikeli.
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Her family in Rochester remains worried for her safety, as they say she has some health issues and has trouble getting around.
The family told Boston 25 News Linda lived in an apartment in Lahaina that she shares with her husband, Sione Vaikeli. He had a doctor’s appointment on the other side of the island the day the fires started and couldn’t reach her before the streets were closed off due to the flames.
“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,” Chief Pelletier said.
As of late Thursday afternoon, investigators say an additional 1,732 individuals who had originally been reported as unaccounted for have since been found safe and well.
If you believe an individual is still unaccounted for and their name is not included on the validated list of names, please email unaccounted@mpd.net immediately to provide the Maui Police Department with any additional information you may have on that person.
For a the full validated list of missing person’s, click here.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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