At least 89 people have been confirmed dead after wildfires in Hawaii – with the state’s governor warning the figure will rise.

It makes the disaster the deadliest wildfire the US has seen in the past century, surpassing the 85 who died in California five years ago.

Governor Josh Green told reporters it had been “an impossible day for us” but that fire crews and police had been “extraordinary”.

The new death toll comes as workers use axes and dogs to pick through charred remains of properties on Maui.

Ruined homes are being marked with an orange X for an initial search and HR if human remains have been found.

Police are urging people with missing family to give DNA samples to help authorities identify victims.