Less than a day after Hawaiian authorities released a list of 388 names of individuals unaccounted for in the wake of the deadly wildfires on Maui, over 100 of those named or their relatives have come forward to confirm their safety, as reported by the FBI.

The FBI is currently reviewing the information provided and is actively working to remove these names from the list.

Expressing gratitude for those who've reached out, Steven Merrill, the FBI's special agent in charge in Honolulu, stated during a press conference that as people are confirmed safe and removed from the list, it allows them to allocate more resources toward those still on it.

A number of people on the list had earlier informed the Associated Press that they were alive and well. However, a few expressed confusion or frustration about being included on the list. In contrast, at least two others were among the victims of the fire, but they have yet to be officially identified in the tally of 115 deaths.

One individual, Arturo Gonzalez Hernandez, who used to reside in the affected area but moved three years ago, was surprised to find himself on the list. He reached out to the FBI to rectify the situation, highlighting the potential stress caused by the inaccurate list.

The list of 388 names is a subset of a larger list of up to 1,100 individuals reported missing, which the FBI has been working on to verify. The published list included individuals with both first and last names, along with verified contact information from someone who reported them missing.

As the search for remains continues among the ruins of destroyed structures, including challenging sites, authorities reported that 1,732 of the initially reported missing individuals had been located safely as of a certain point in time.

In addition to land searches, efforts are underway to search a stretch of water where people might have sought escape from the flames. Earlier, officials requested DNA samples from relatives to aid in identification, assuring that the samples wouldn't be used for any other purposes. However, the rate of DNA sample contributions is still not at the desired level, according to Maui prosecuting attorney Andrew Martin.

Read more: Hawaii officials underestimated the fire, did not warn residents

Biden compares Maui wildfires to kitchen fire he experienced

After touring Maui following the wildfires that killed at least 114 people and left a thousand missing, US President Joe Biden compared his experience to a small kitchen fire he said he had experienced previously - causing a wave of screams as his motorcade went by on the island.

Biden spoke of the loss of his wife and baby daughter in 1972 and then proceeded to compare the wildfires to a kitchen fire at his Delaware home that happened in 2004. The US President didn't stop there, since he continued to ask rescue teams whether their boots were reinforced before commenting on the 'hot ground' beneath their feet as a joke. 

This comes amid a wave of criticism by Hawaiian residents who received just $700 handed for each affected family by the Biden administration after losing homes and properties, while aid for Ukraine in the war amounted to tens of billions.

The President also faced a massive wave of condemnation for his slow response to the disaster, especially after saying 'no comment' when asked for his response to the fires as he left on his vacation to the beach in Delaware.