Washington - Next week, Joe and Jill Biden are scheduled to visit Hawaii in order to witness the aftermath of the wildfires that inflicted severe damage upon the town of Lahaina. The White House disclosed this information on Wednesday, coinciding with the tragic increase in the death toll from the disaster, which now stands at 110.

In the announcement of their upcoming visit, set for Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre conveyed, "During their time in Maui, the president and first lady will receive a warm reception from state and local leaders, enabling them to directly observe the extensive ramifications of the wildfires, as well as the profound loss of life and land on the island. Additionally, they will engage in discussions concerning the subsequent stages of the recovery endeavor."

Jean-Pierre went on to state, "The president remains committed to orchestrating a comprehensive, government-wide response to address the catastrophic Maui fires. He has vowed to provide the people of Hawaii with all the necessary support from the federal government as they navigate the recovery process."

Joe Biden has faced critique, notably from Republicans including Donald Trump, regarding his handling of the Maui fires. In a video message, the former president and frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination rebuked Biden's actions, specifically referencing his "no comment" response to reporters' inquiries about the escalating death count.

Trump remarked, "While saying 'no comment' is sometimes acceptable, doing so with a smile, particularly in the face of such a tragedy, is deeply distressing and unacceptable."

White House officials have defended Biden's actions, highlighting his consistent communication with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Hawaii's leadership, including Governor Josh Green.

Biden publicly addressed the wildfires on Tuesday after four days of not commenting on the disaster. However, his identification of Maui as the "Big Island," an alternative name for Hawaii Island, the largest in the archipelago, garnered further criticism.

Biden announced his intention to visit Hawaii, though he expressed a desire to avoid impeding disaster relief efforts.

Governor Green stated on Wednesday that the death toll from the devastating fires is anticipated to rise, but not drastically. Speaking to reliable news sources, he explained that search-and-rescue missions were still ongoing. The governor revealed that confirmed fatalities were primarily concentrated near ocean-side roads.

In a press conference, Green confirmed 110 deaths and reported that 38% of the disaster-stricken area had been searched. He also noted that approximately 2,000 homes and businesses in the region still lacked electricity.