Maui wildfires updates: President Biden, first lady tour damage

The fires burned thousands of homes and commercial buildings to the ground.

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.

Maui Wildfires
ABC News, AP, Nasa

Latest headlines:

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.

"Good Morning America" is helping raise awareness for Maui fire relief efforts.
ABC News

How to help:

-- Maui Strong Fund

-- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

-- University of Hawai'i Foundation

-- Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui

-- American Red Cross/ABC

-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.

PHOTO: In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband.
In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband. Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc
Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc

Aug 16, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT

3,000 pets missing from Lahaina

Katie Shannon of the Maui Humane Society estimates that 3,000 pets are missing from wildfire-ravaged Lahaina.

So far, the Maui Humane Society has received 52 injured animals, including some suffering from smoke inhalation and some with burns, Shannon told ABC News.

PHOTO: A injured dog with bandaged legs and paws being treated at the the Maui Humane Society, Hawaii.
A injured dog being treated at the the Maui Humane Society, Hawaii, following the wildfires that devastated parts of the island.
Courtesy Maui Humane Society

PHOTO: An injured dog is treated at Maui Humane Society in Lahaina, Hawaii.
An injured dog is treated at Maui Humane Society in Lahaina, Hawaii. The Maui Humane Society is treating dogs, cats, chickens, pigs and other animals that were badly burned while fleeing the wildfires.
Katie Shannon/Maui Humane Society via AP

"We have also seen severe burns -- cats that look, I don't think that their owner may even know that it is their cat because they look so burnt. Their ears are burnt, their faces are burnt. It's just incredibly severe," Shannon said.

A woman cradles her cat after finding him in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 11, 2023.
Moses Slovatizki/AFP via Getty Images

The Maui Humane Society is not only sending food and supplies to the hardest-hit areas, but is also trying to reunite owners with their pets. A dog named Roman was separated from his pet sitter during the fire when the sitter jumped into the ocean and Roman refused to follow. Roman, who was missing for a couple days, was found by a good Samaritan, taken to the humane society and, thanks to his microchip, was reunited with his owners.

Roman was reunited with his owners after being brought to the Maui Humane Society.
Courtesy Maui Humane Society

"That is our goal -- to reunite every pet and owner, and also to provide the lifesaving care that these pets need," Shannon said.

PHOTO: A injured dog being treated at the the Maui Humane Society, Hawaii, following the wildfires that devastated parts of the island
A injured dog being treated at the the Maui Humane Society, Hawaii, following the wildfires that devastated parts of the island.
Courtesy Maui Humane Society

The Maui Humane Society is sending many of the animals it had on site before the fires to the mainland to make room for the animals coming in from the Lahaina area.

-ABC News' Will Carr and Timmy Truong

Aug 16, 2023, 9:10 AM EDT

Bidens to visit wildfire-ravaged Maui

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui on Monday "to meet with first responders, survivors, as well as federal, state, and local officials, in the wake of deadly wildfires on the island," according to the White House.

"In Maui, the President and First Lady will be welcomed by state and local leaders to see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Wednesday. "The President continues to marshal a whole-of-government response to the deadly Maui fires, and he has committed to delivering everything that the people of Hawaii need from the federal government as they recover from this disaster."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 16, 2023, 8:39 AM EDT

Many of the dead 'were on the road down by the sea,' Hawaii governor says

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that many of those killed by the wildfires on Maui have been found near the ocean.

The death toll currently stands at 106, while 27% of the affected area "has been covered," according to Green.

"Although many of the fatalities were on the road down by the sea," the governor told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an interview Wednesday on "Good Morning America."

"We have an enormous team on the ground," he added.

There are 185 rescuers with 20 dogs in the "impact zone" going through each building and house, or what's left of them. They are now "moving from initial phase of the recovery deep into the acute phase," according to Green.

The governor told ABC News that the death toll "will increase," but officials "hope" the figure won’t reach "further catastrophic proportions."

"We just don't know yet," he said.

A road running east to west on Maui was reopened Wednesday night. From 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, people can drive "freely" on that road across the island. The National Guard will be stationed alongside the road so members of the public can’t go into the affected area. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time, the road will be closed except for emergency drop-offs and local residents, according to Green.

"We have to be very careful not to disturb the scene so we can do the necessary recovery," he said.

The governor told ABC News that he’s made "multiple trips" into the "impact zone."

"This was a tragic combination of both a fire and a hurricane, which meant that, well, extremely high temperatures were traveling at 60 to 81 mph and it swept through, in some cases melting metal and granite and engine blocks -- that's how hot it was," he said. "So it's a very delicate scene. There are toxic metals and asbestos down there."

Green expressed how "grateful" he and the rest of Hawaii is "for everyone's outpouring of support."

"Though the workload's extraordinary and our hearts are broken, we will get through it," he added. "We just are still kind of in the thick of doing recovery."

Gov. Josh Green shares an update on the damage after the deadly wildfire that has claimed at least 106 lives.
3:19

Hawaii governor details recovery efforts in Maui fire

Gov. Josh Green shares an update on the damage after the deadly wildfire that has claimed at least 106 lives.
ABCNews.com

Aug 16, 2023, 6:58 AM EDT

Japan pledges $2 million in aid to Hawaii wildfire victims

Japan announced Wednesday that it will provide $2 million in assistance for the victims of the wildfires in Hawaii.

The aid will be provided through the American Red Cross and the Japan Platform, both nonprofits.

"Japan will actively provide assistance for the relief of the victims and the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas," the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Wednesday.

-ABC News' Anthony Trotter

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