Lahaina Wildfire Affected Victims
Hawaii officials said on Friday who the last person was among the 100 known victims killed in the worst wildfire in the US in over 100 years on Maui.
Lydia Coloma, 70, was the last person to be identified by forensic scientists at the Maui Police Department, according to police spokesperson Alana Pico.
Before the identification, an investigator mentioned that the remains were severely damaged, requiring a lot of analysis to bring closure to her family, said Tony Earles, the lead crime scene investigator.
“She is a mother, a wife, a well-respected community member,” said Maui Police officer Steven Landsiedel in an interview with CNN last year during the ongoing forensic work.
According to the nonprofit newsroom Honolulu Civil Beat, eight members of Coloma’s family also died in the wildfires in early August 2023.
After Coloma’s positive identification, she was removed from the list of missing people tracked by Maui Police. Currently, three people are classified as missing due to the wildfires: Paul Kasprzycki, 76; Robert Owens, 65; and Elmer Lee Stevens, 73, according to Maui County’s credible Lahaina fire missing list.
Driven by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, the fast-moving wildfires destroyed entire neighborhoods and displaced hundreds of residents. Lahaina, a historic town on the western coast of Maui, suffered extensive destruction.
The death toll reached at least 100 as crews spent days searching through the rubble of homes, businesses, and historic landmarks. The Maui wildfires were the deadliest in the US in over 100 years, according to research from the National Fire Protection Association.
As of last week, more than 5,400 people were still displaced in hotel rooms, about five months after the wildfire, said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green in a video update on social media. The governor also mentioned efforts to address the housing issue by leasing long-term rentals.
Recent Climate – Lahaina Wildfire Affected Victims , Lahaina Wildfire Affected Victims update