At least 850 people are still missing after devastating wildfires tore through the Hawaii island of Maui, with the death toll standing at 114.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were travelling on Monday to the site of the blaze to comfort survivors as Mr Biden’s administration responds to the devastation.
Mr Biden will deliver remarks paying tribute to the victims of the wildfires, which began on August 8 and destroyed the historic town of Lahaina.
“I know how profoundly loss can impact a family and a community and I know nothing can replace the loss of life," the president said in a statement ahead of the trip.
“I will do everything in my power to help Maui recover and rebuild from this tragedy. And throughout our efforts, we are focused on respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions."
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said on Sunday that “an army of search and rescue teams" with 41 dogs have covered 85% of the impacted area in the search for the missing.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said there were “currently 850 names on the list of missing persons,” although he noted this was down from the original list containing more than 2,000 names.
“Over 1,285 individuals have been located safe. We are both saddened and relieved about these numbers as we continue the recovery process,” he said.
“The number of identified will rise, and the number of missing may decrease.”
Nearly 2,000 people on the island remain without power and 10,000 are without telecom connectivity, according to official estimates. Water in parts of west Maui is not safe to drink.
While immediate aid such as water, food and blankets has been readily distributed to residents, officials said that cellphones, identification and other documents that people would need to help them enrol in longer-term aid programs were burned in the fires, adding more challenges.
More than 1,000 federal officials remain on the ground in Hawaii to respond to the wildfires, according to the White House.
