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.
On Thursday, "Good Morning America" and ABC News organized efforts to help viewers get involved in relief efforts for survivors of the Maui fires.
How to help:
-ABC News’ Kelly McCarthy
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.
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."
Residents and tourists in Kaanapali were being evacuated Friday evening as fires continued in West Maui, law enforcement officials said.
"As of this posting, there is a fire in West Maui, residents in the Kaanapali are currently being evacuated," the Maui Police Department said in a statement posted to social media.
Kaanapali, another area popular with tourists, is on the coast a few miles north of Lahaina.
-ABC News' Amanda Morris
One region particularly ravaged by the wildfires is the historic town of Lahaina, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1962.
It was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 before Honolulu became the capital and before the kingdom was overthrown and Hawaii was annexed by the United States, according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.
This includes the historic Waiola Church, the first Christian church on Maui established in 1823, which can be seen in photos engulfed in the blaze.
Buried here are several Hawaiian monarchs, including "Queen Keopuolani, the highest royalty by virtue of bloodlines in all Hawaii," the last king of Kauai King Kaumuali'i, High Chief Ulumaheihei Hoapili and more.
A more than 60-foot-tall, 150-year-old Indian banyan tree that become a beloved landmark in the city of Lahaina was also damaged in the blaze, pictures show.
The historic tree covers one-quarter of a mile and shades nearly two-thirds of an acre of land.
Other historic homes, museums, and cultural centers were caught in the blaze. Learn more here.
-ABC News' Kiara Alfonseca
The death toll due to the Maui fires has increased to 67, officials said.
Twelve additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. local time Friday, officials said, bringing the death toll to 67.
That officially makes this the largest death toll from a natural disaster since Hawaii's statehood.
Previously, the deadliest natural disaster in the state occurred in 1960, when a tsunami killed 61 people.
The Lahaina fire is not yet contained, officials said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency for Hawaii due to the wildfires.
The declaration "gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries," the agency said.
"We will do all we can to assist Hawaii officials with responding to the health impacts of the wildfires,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. "We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support."
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."