President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Hawaii on Monday after one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in more than a century ravaged the island of Maui.
The visit comes as Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said 850 people are still missing.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said last week search and recovery efforts are expected to be at a stage that will allow for a presidential visit.
“In Maui, the President and first lady will be welcomed by state and local leaders to see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort,” the White House said in a statement Wednesday.
“The President continues to marshal a whole-of-government response to the deadly Maui fires, and he has committed to delivering everything that the people of Hawaii need from the federal government as they recover from this disaster,” the White House said.
The wildfires have left parts of Maui — mainly the town of Lahaina — burned to the ground. More than 100 people are confirmed dead so far. County officials have begun identifying victims, and federal officials sent a mobile morgue with coroners, pathologists and technicians to Hawaii to help with identifications, according to the Associated Press.
Death toll from Maui fire at 106 as county begins identifying victims
The governor warned that scores more bodies could be found.
