The department of public safety reports there are 146 human remains from the tornado in Joplin.

The death toll had been around 130 previously, but because some of the remains in the coroner’s custody now might be for the same person, authorities are not assigning a number to those killed by the historically devastating storm that hit May 22.

The names of 120 people killed have been released because positive identification and notification of next of kin has taken place.

State officials have been working to narrow down a list of those missing since the storm hit and today released an updated list of unaccounted-for individuals — only 10 remain from what began as 232 just a few days ago. (On May 27, the number had been reduced to 156; on May 28, the number had been reduced to 100; on May 29, the number had been reduced to 43; and on May 30, the number had been reduced to 29.)

“All persons once classified as reported deceased by their families, but awaiting scientific confirmation of their identities, have now been identified and their next-of-kin notified,” the Department of Public Safety reports.

The Department of Public Safety provided the following updated totals:

  • 10 persons are unaccounted for
  • 144 persons have been reported located
  • 37 additional missing persons reports have been filed
  • 4 persons have been confirmed to have been reported on the list twice or under different names

Those categorized as “reported located” are individuals who the Missouri State Highway Patrol has received credible information indicating that they are alive.

“Following the release and posting of the initial list on May 26, the Highway Patrol received many phone calls and e-mails that included credible information about the location of individuals,” the department reports. “The Patrol is also monitoring postings on facebook and other social media sites.”

The names of unaccounted-for individuals are being cross-referenced with all hospitals that admitted or treated patients injured during the tornado, shelters housing tornado survivors, applicants for disaster assistance and the Red Cross Safe and Well program. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety is working with cell phone service providers to check whether cell phones have been used by individuals who have been unaccounted-for since their names were added to the list.

To see those still be sought, view www.dps.mo.gov — the list is updated daily. The list of the confirmed 120 deceased individuals is also posted there.

The public is asked to call the Missouri State Highway Patrol Found-Persons Hotline at 417-895-6868.

To get direction on filing a report about an unaccounted-for individual, families and loved ones are encouraged to call 417-659-5464 or file a report with the Highway Patrol in person at the Billingsley Student Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.