Aug 15, 2023, 10:25 PM EDT
101 people confirmed dead
The death toll in the Maui fires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night during his latest news briefing.
Maui wildfires updates: President Biden, first lady get firsthand look at damage
The fires burned thousands of homes and commercial buildings to the ground.
ByMark Osborne, Meredith Deliso, Morgan Winsor, Nadine El-Bawab, Mary Kekatos, Kevin Shalvey, Jolie Lash, Ivan Pereira, and Kiara Alfonseca
Last Updated: August 21, 2023, 2:00 PM EDT
The deadly wildfires that erupted on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 have become the deadliest natural disaster in state history, officials said.
The blazes spread rapidly due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful winds. Much of the historic town of Lahaina has been "destroyed," officials said, and the inferno has burned thousands of residential and commercial buildings to the ground.
ABC News, AP, Nasa
Latest headlines:
- Aug 21, 2023, 7:51 PM EDT
- Aug 21, 2023, 4:53 AM EDT
- Aug 20, 2023, 8:26 PM EDT
Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Aug 17, 2023, 5:36 am
Maui Strong: Charities to directly support wildfire relief efforts
On Thursday, "Good Morning America" and ABC News organized efforts to help viewers get involved in relief efforts for survivors of the Maui fires.
ABC News
How to help:
-- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
-- University of Hawai'i Foundation
-- Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui
-ABC News’ Kelly McCarthy
Aug 16, 2023, 11:55 am
What we know about the victims
Over 100 people have died from the devastating wildfires on Maui. Officials have warned that the death toll is expected to rise as they work to contain the active blazes and assess the damage.
Click here to read what we know about some of the victims.
Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc
Aug 15, 2023, 5:15 PM EDT
32% of area has been searched, 4th victim IDed: Officials
Maui officials released an update Tuesday about their search and recovery efforts and said 32% of the area has been searched.
A fourth deceased victim was identified, but no names will be released until after family members are notified, officials said.
Officials said they are continuing to collect DNA samples from families to help identify the deceased. As of Tuesday evening, 13 DNA profiles have been obtained from fatalities, and 41 DNA samples have been obtained from family members of missing people, officials said.
Aug 15, 2023, 4:26 PM EDT
Damage assessment only 25% done: Governor
Gov. Josh Green told Honolulu ABC affiliate KITV Tuesday that anxious residents need to give first responders and crews more time to assess the damage in "ground zero of the fire."
Green said firefighters are 25% done with their assessment.
"I'm hoping and praying and working all these things, that by the end of the weekend, the firefighters and the police have said, 'OK, we've done enough,'" he said.
The governor also noted that families will still need their space as officials work to identify the bodies recovered so far.
Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images
"Only three of the bodies that we recovered had enough fingerprint to share who they were," he said.
Green said that some of the bodies are those of families, including three children of a family of four who were found inside a car.
The governor said he was appreciative so far of the support from President Joe Biden, who called him Tuesday morning, and the federal government.
-ABC News' Jennifer Watts
Aug 15, 2023, 2:23 PM EDT
Biden addresses wildfires, pledges support 'as long as it takes'
President Joe Biden addressed the current situation in Maui during an event in Milwaukee Tuesday afternoon and reiterated the federal government's commitment to helping the millions of people affected.
"Every asset, every asset they need will be there for them. And we will be there in Maui as long as it takes," he said.
Biden said the recovery and cleanup processes will be difficult because crews are still trying to determine the number of dead bodies.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
"Imagine being a mom or dad wondering where your child is. Imagine being a husband or wife, a mother, a father. It's really tough stuff," he said.
Biden spoke with Gov. Josh Green earlier in the day and is planning on visiting the island along with the first lady.
"I don't want to get in the way," he said. "But I want to go, make sure we got everything they need. I want to be sure we don't disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts."
