Five dead in Bahamas from Dorian as storm threatens US coast
Five people have been killed by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, the nation's prime minister has revealed, as Donald Trump spent part of the day playing golf.
As the category 4 storm pummelled the Bahamas with 145mph winds, triggering huge damage and massive flooding, the nation’s prime minister said at least five people had been killed.
“We are in the midst of a historic tragedy,” Hubert Minnis told reporters, saying the deaths had occurred on the Abaco Islands, which were where Dorian first made landfall on Sunday.
He said people on nearby Great Bahama island who are in serious distress and that rescue crews would respond once weather conditions permitted them to do so.
“This is the time for us as Bahamians to show our love, our care and our compassion,“ Mr Minnis said at a press conference on Tuesday evening. “Your compassion at this most difficult hour will bring healing and hope to those who are traumatised by this destructive hurricane.”
As officials in the Bahamas urged residents to find flotation devices and use hammers to break out of their attics if they were threatened by the massive flooding, Mr Trump spent part of the day at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Reports said it was 289th day he has spent at a Trump property and the 227th, he has enjoyed at one of his golf clubs since becoming president.
South Carolina's governor Henry McMaster has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the entire coast of the state amid Dorian's threat.
The order, which covers about 830,000 people
Over the weekend, Mr Trump cancelled a trip to Poland to monitor the federal response to the storm, which he has warned could be “one of the largest hurricanes ever”.
If you would like to see how the day's drama played out please read below
Although Hurricane Dorian weakened slightly overnight, the National Hurricane Center in Miami has said the Category 5 storm remains “extremely dangerous”.
The hurricane is expected to batter Grand Bahama, the Bahamas’ northernmost island, through Monday before moving close to Florida.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that “life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds” are expected along parts of Florida’s east coast through the week.
The Associated Press has more details on Dorian’s movement through the northern Bahamas.
The agency reports:
“The National Hurricane Centre in Miami says the Category 5 storm's top sustained winds remain at 165 mph (265 kph) on Monday morning, down on Sunday's high of 185 mph (297 kph).
“The centre of the storm is around 40 miles (65 km) east of Grand Bahama's largest city, Freeport, and 115 miles (185 km) east of West Palm Beach, Florida.
“The newest advisory indicates that the east-central coast of Florida may experience a "brief tornado" Monday afternoon or evening.”
As many as 13,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed by Dorian across the Bahamas and many people have been left without adequate shelter, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Sune Bulow, head of the IFRC’s Emergency Operation Centre in Geneva, said:
“We don’t yet have a complete picture of what has happened. But it is clear that Hurricane Dorian has had a catastrophic impact.
“We anticipate extensive shelter needs, alongside the need for short-term economic support, as well as for clean water and health assistance.”
The Independent’s Harry Cockburn has the full details on the evacuations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as Dorian approaches the US east coast.
Gregory Oravec, the mayor of Port St Lucie, Florida, has warned residents to “not get caught off-guard” if Dorian moves from its projected path.
He told CNN:
“We are very concerned about all aspects of the storm and it really boils down to whether the storm stays on its projected track or if it comes a little bit to the west.
“This is the summer rainy season in most of Florida and especially right here in Port St Lucie so the ground is already saturated. Mother Nature is not going to be able to absorb that extra rain as it falls.
“So any shift [of the storm] to the left that brings up that expected rain total will be problematic.”
It’s still unclear how much damage will be caused by Dorian but for context, this infographic shows the economic fallout from some of the most devastating hurricanes to hit the US in the past 40 years.
Nearly 1,000 flights have been cancelled in Florida on Labour Day as Dorian barrels towards the US east coast, according to AP.
FlightAware, a flight tracking website, has listed 990 cancellations into or out of airports in Orlando, Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Palm Beach.
Although the official forecast does not show Dorian making landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Centre has warned that it could deviate from its predicted path.
Peter Gaynor, the acting FEMA administrator, has issued a stark warning that “time is running out” to make preparations for the storm before it comes close to Florida.
He told ABC’s Good Morning America:
“What we really want to get across this morning is that time is running out to make preparations. If you’re in south Florida or West Palm Beach, you’re feeling the winds right now.
“You need to take precautions because the unpredictability of where Dorian will go is something we’re all anxious to find out.
“But you have to be prepared for any scenarios today.”
The UK has deployed a team of three humanitarian experts to the Bahamas to begin immediate work on assessing the damage following Dorian.
The team, who departed from London this morning, are expected to arrive in the region later today to help coordinate the relief effort.
Alok Sharma, the international development secretary, said:
“My thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating hurricane which is causing widespread disruption.
“I have sent an initial team of experts to the Bahamas to help assess the damage and coordinate the UK’s response, including any potential use of military assets if required.
“The UK is a world leader in providing disaster relief, and it’s right that we support the people of the Bahamas in their time of need.”
