The confirmed death toll from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas has reached 43 with the number set to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
This figure comes as teams tried to reach some communities isolated by flood waters and debris after the hurricane bashed the northern Bahamas earlier this week, with 185 mph winds that obliterated countless homes.
Health Minister Duane Sands confirmed the death toll in a WhatsApp message to The Associated Press on Friday night.
There were also at least four deaths in the Southeast US blamed on Dorian, who were all men in Florida and North Carolina who died in falls or by electrocution while preparing for the hurricane.
Bahamas Security Minister Marvin Dames said authorities are striving to reach everyone but the crews cannot just bulldoze their way through fallen trees and other rubble because there might be bodies not yet recovered.
"We have been through this before, but not at this level of devastation," Mr Dames said. "These are very serious times and very sensitive times."
He expressed understanding for the complaints of people who are calling for help after having their lives shattered by Dorian - though he urged patience for efforts by authorities to get in humanitarian aid.
An array of organisations, countries and companies, including the United Nations, the US government, the British Royal Navy, American Airlines and Royal Caribbean, have mobilised efforts to send in food, water, generators, roof tarps, diapers, flashlights and other supplies to the affected areas.
Hundreds of desperate storm victims gathered Friday at the port on Grand Abaco in hopes of getting off the devastated island amid signs of rising frustration over the pace of the disaster-relief effort.
"It's chaos here," said Gee Rolle, a construction worker who waited with his wife for a boat that could take them to the capital, Nassa
"The government is trying their best, but at the same time, I don't think they're doing a good enough job to evacuate the people. It ain't livable for nobody. Only animals can live here."
Meanwhile, Hurricane Dorian is producing tropical storm-force winds in southeastern Massachusetts as it speeds towards eastern Canada.
The Category 1 storm was around 170 miles southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, early Saturday, and around 490 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Top sustained winds remain at 90 mph with higher gusts. While some weakening is forecast, Dorian is expected to bring hurricane conditions to portions of Nova Scotia later Saturday before becoming a powerful post-tropical cyclone.
The storm is moving northeast near 25 mph and some increase in forward speed is expected through Sunday.
The tropical-storm conditions affecting parts of Massachusetts are expected to spread into Maine by Saturday afternoon.
Additional reporting by agencies.
