Hurricane Dorian was advancing slowly toward the southeast coast of the United States on Wednesday as a dangerous Category 2 storm after killing and leaving a trail of destruction in the Bahamas.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the "storm will dangerously advance to the east coast of Florida and the coast of Georgia on Wednesday night."
Prime Minister of the Caribbean Archipelago Hubert Minnis informed the press that seven deaths have so far been reported. The head of government warned that the death toll could increase and called Dorian "one of the biggest crises in the history of our country."
- Parts of Abacus are decimated. There is major flooding, severe damage to homes, businesses and other buildings and infrastructure, ”said Minnis. "The inhabitants of the Bahamas endured hours and days of terror, fearing for their lives and those of their loved ones," he added.
Aerial footage of CNN's Grand Abaco Island in the Bahamas shows scenes of catastrophic damage, with hundreds of homeless homes, overturned cars, huge floods and rubble. At 9am (6pm GMT), Dorian was moving north-northwest at 13 km / h, with winds up to 165 km / h, according to the NHC.
The US Coast Guard sent helicopters to Andros Island in the southern archipelago to assist with search and rescue tasks, while residents trapped in their flooded homes made desperate calls. But the runways at Freeport's Grand Bahama International Airport were underwater, complicating rescue efforts.
According to a first Red Cross bulletin, some 13,000 homes may have been damaged or destroyed, and the hurricane caused "considerable damage" to the Abaco and Greater Bahama Islands. At least 61,000 people would be in need of food aid in the Bahamas, the UN estimated on Tuesday, which is preparing to send two assessment teams.
Trump calls for caution
US President Donald Trump has called for caution.
"The United States may have a bit of luck about Hurricane Dorian, but please don't let your guard down," the president tweeted. "As you head for the coast, very bad and unpredictable things can happen," he added.
The Pentagon reported that 5,000 members of the National Guard and 2,700 military personnel are ready to act should the need arise. In Florida, Dorian's effects were already felt, with heavy rains and possible tornadoes. In Coconut Grove, residents gathered provisions to serve the victims of the archipelago.
