Hurricane Dorian regained strength today as millions of people along America’s east coast were facing a “life-threatening storm surge”.
Forecasters warned that the deadly hurricane, upgraded back to category three, could slam into the coast of South Carolina later today — bringing record surges of up to eight feet.
More than 2.2 million residents from Virginia to Florida have been warned to follow evacuation orders and emergency instructions as the storm moved slowly northwards. It strengthened overnight with winds of up to 115mph after passing over warm waters which drive hurricane intensity.
As Dorian moved closer to the US east coast, the death toll in the Bahamas — parts of which have been left looking they have been carpet bombed — increased from eight to at least 20.
The United Nations said 70,000 people there needed immediate humanitarian aid after the most damaging storm ever to hit the islands nation. The death toll was expected to rise further as floods recede.
Aerial video of the worst-hit Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas showed widespread devastation, with the harbour, shops and workplaces, a hospital and airport landing strips damaged or blown to pieces, all of which frustrated rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, America’s National Hurricane Centre warned that a “life-threatening storm surge with significant coastal flooding is expected along a large portion of the south-east and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States in the next couple of days."
It said a storm surge potentially as big as eight feet was likely to hit the popular holiday destination of Myrtle Beach. About a foot of rain was expected to fall on flood-prone Charleston today and tomorrow.
“It’s pretty substantial,” said forecaster Bob Oravec. “It’s already raining heavy in Charleston and up and down the coast.” Community leaders said time was running out for residents to leave their homes and head for safety.
“We thought it was coming and here it is,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “It is the water that kills people. It is the water that is the real danger, and it is clear that we are going to have a lot of water,” he added.
North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper echoed the warning, saying: “Please don’t let familiarity get in the way of good judgment. Don’t try to ride it out. It’s not worth putting your life at risk or endangering first responders who might have to save you.”
The state suffered its first storm-related fatality yesterday when an 85-year-old man fell from a ladder while preparing for the storm.
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