Body of Missing Filipina in Hawaii wildfire identified ----By GMA Integrated News

NEW YORK - The Maui Police Department has announced the identification of one of the four previously unidentified bodies under the care of the Maui Coroner's Office as Lydia Coloma, a Filipina. A DNA test has confirmed that the body of 70-year-old Lydia Coloma is among the four bodies recovered from the Lahaina wildfire on Aug. 8, 2023. Coloma's family had earlier confirmed her involvement in the tragedy, stating that she was trapped in the fire and passed away alongside her husband, Salvador, and seven other relatives. The Maui Police Department first recognized the deaths of the seven relatives through DNA testing. "It is with a heavy heart that the County of Maui and the Maui Police Department confirm the following identity of a victim involved in the West Maui Wildfire incident. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and community affected by this devastating event," the Maui Police Department said in a press statement. A total of 29 Filipinos and Filipino Americans are among the 100 casualties of what is considered the most devastating wildfire in the history of the island of Hawaii: Angelic Quijano Baclig Narciso Baylosis, 67 Vanessa Baylosis, 67 Luz Bernabe, 65 Maurice Buen aka Shadow, 79 Lydia Coloma, 70 Salvador Coloma, 77 Leticia Constantino, 56 Marilou Dias, 60 Alfredo Galinato, 79 Raffy Imperial, 63 Buddy Jantoc, 79 Joseph Lara, 86 Bibiana Tomboc Lutrania, 58 Rogelio Mabalot Sr, 68 Pablo Pagdilao, 75 Felimon Quijano Junmark Geovannie Quijano Eugene Recolizado, 51 Justine Recolizado, 11 Maria Victoria Recolizado, 51 Rodolfo Rocutan, 76 Conchita Sagudang, 75 Danilo Sagudang, 55 Carlo Tobias, 54 Reveling Baybayan Tomboc, 81 Adela Quijano Villegas, 70 Joel Villegas Glenda Yabes, 48 Hundreds of Filipinos were initially reported as missing by the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce in August, after the winds of distant hurricane triggered the deadly wildfires. — Dave Llavanes Jr./ VDV, GMA Integrated News

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