Five more Filipinos named casualties in Maui wildfires; total now 19

NEW YORK - The death toll among Filipinos in the tragic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii climbed to 19 after five more individuals were confirmed by local authorities to be casualties.

Forensic experts were able to identify the five casualties through DNA samples provided by relatives to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The five newly identified victims are Leticia Constantino, 56, from Caoayan, Ilocos Sur; Raffy Imperial, 63, from Naga City, Camarines Sur; Bibiana Tomboc Lutrania, 58, from Pangasinan; Maurice Buen, also known as "Shadow," from Ilocos; and Marilou Dias, 60, from Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

Meanwhile, Constantino's son Allen and Lutrania's mother Revelina Tomboc are still unaccounted for.

Among the five new victims, only Lutrania has available information from the Philippine Consulate General Office in Honolulu. She last renewed her Philippine passport in 2015, and there is no information suggesting that she became an American citizen.

The total number of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans known to have tragically lost their lives in the wildfires now stands at 19. Their names are as follows:

1. Rogelio Mabalot Sr, 68
2. Salvador Coloma, 77
3. Rodolfo Rocutan, 76
4. Conchita Sagudang, 75
5. Danilo Sagudang, 55
6. Alfredo Galinato, 79
7. Carlo Tobias, 54
8. Pablo Pagdilao, 75
9. Narciso Baylosis, 67
10. Vanessa Baylosis, 67
11. Eugene Recolizado, 50
12. Joseph Lara, 86
13. Glenda Yabes, 48
14. Buddy Jantoc, 79
15. Leticia Constantino, 56
16. Raffy Imperial, 63
17. Bibiana Tomboc Lutrania, 58
18. Maurice Buen, Aka Shadow, 79
19. Marilou Dias, 60

At least 11 more Filipino and Filipino-American individuals are still missing, as confirmed by their relatives and friends to GMA Integrated News. Their names are also included in the list of unaccounted-for released by the Maui Police Department:

1. Angelic Baclig
2. Joel Villegas
3. Adela Villegas 
4. Junmark Quijano
5. Felimon Quijano
6. Luz Bernabe
7. Lydia Coloma
8. Victoria Recolizado
9. Justine Recolizado
10. Reveling Baybayan Tomboc
11. Allen Constantino of Ilocos

DNA tests have led to a lower death toll — from 115 to at least 97. Officials initially reported 115 deaths, but further testing revealed multiple DNA samples from some of the victims.

The Maui Police Department (MPD) continues to urge the public to report any missing family members.

As of the latest update, the number of missing persons officially recorded and validated by the MPD has decreased to 31. 

The National Weather Service earlier said the wildfires were fueled by dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity. The winds from Hurricane Dora fanned the flames across the state, Reuters reported. —KG, GMA Integrated News