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Hurricane Dorian: Storm claims lives, bodies ‘floating in the water’

Airports in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are going into lockdown as Hurricane Dorian nears, following at least five deaths in the Bahamas.

Hurricane Dorian: Catastrophic storm hits the Bahamas

The death toll from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas has risen to five and there are fears there could be more casualties after 300km/h winds ripped off roofs from homes, overturned cars and tore down power lines.

Seven-year-old Lachino Mcintosh became the first victim of the hurricane when he drowned near his family’s home in Abaco, according to Bahamas Press.

The boy is reported to have lost his life while his family was trying to find shelter. Mcintosh’s sister, whose age is unknown, is also reported to be missing.

The first recorded death of Hurricane Dorian was seven-year-old Lachino Mcintosh. Picture: Twitter
The first recorded death of Hurricane Dorian was seven-year-old Lachino Mcintosh. Picture: Twitter

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis later announced five deaths have been confirmed in Abaco.

It comes as the Bahamian government also said there had been reports of “bodies floating” in the wreckage.

“From all accounts, we have received catastrophic damage to Abaco. We have reports of casualties. We have reports of bodies being seen. We cannot confirm those reports until we go out and see for ourselves,” Darren Henfield, the Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said.

Hurricane Dorian lashes the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
Hurricane Dorian lashes the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
The storm wreaked havoc in the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
The storm wreaked havoc in the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter

As many as 13,000 homes in the Bahamas may have been destroyed or severely damaged, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

Dorian, which weakened slightly from a Category 5 to a Category 4 hurricane, continued to bring “extreme destruction” to the Bahamas as the storm moved over the islands, moving westwards at just 1km/h.

The National Hurricane Center said Dorian is expected to move “dangerously close” to the Florida east coast late on Monday through to Wednesday evening and then move north to coastal Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday night and Thursday (local time).

Dorian crawled to a near stop as a Category 4 storm with 250km/h winds in the Bahamas and was about 180km east of West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday at 11am local time (1am AEST).

Dorian continued to lash the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
Dorian continued to lash the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter

‘WE SIMPLY CANNOT GET TO YOU’

Meanwhile, authorities in the Bahamas urged people to find floating devices and grab hammers to break out of their attics if necessary as Dorian unleashed massive flooding across Grand Bahama island.

Minister of State Kwasi Thompson told ZNS Bahamas radio station that officials were getting a tremendous number of calls from people in distress as the powerful Category 4 storm slowed to almost a standstill.

Hurricane Dorian has destroyed parts of the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
Hurricane Dorian has destroyed parts of the Bahamas. Picture: Twitter
A collapsed house. Picture: Twitter
A collapsed house. Picture: Twitter

Police Chief Samuel Butler urged people to remain calm and said rescue crews could not help anyone at the moment because of the storm’s maximum sustained winds of 250km/h.

“We simply cannot get to you,” he said.

Dorian is also expected to cause a storm surge of up to seven metres as ZNS radio station shared reports from callers saying some people were stuck on roofs and other areas.

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US BRACES FOR DORIAN HIT

It comes as coastal Floridians, Georgians and Carolinians headed for higher ground on Monday as Dorian trudged toward the US’ southeast coast.

“The window to prepare is closing,” tweeted Peter Gaynor, acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“If you are on Florida’s east coast, finish preparing & evacuate if local officials tell you to. Don’t tough it out — get out!”

FEMA encouraged those on the coast to expect extreme winds, and to evacuate if instructed.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for coastal communities in 10 Florida counties comprising nearly all of the state’s Atlantic coast.

Map of the evacuations zone in South Carolina as Hurricane Doria closes in.
Map of the evacuations zone in South Carolina as Hurricane Doria closes in.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered his state’s entire coastline to evacuate.

The order affected some 830,000 people.

As of Monday 12pm (2am AEST) the storm was located 40km northeast of Freeport and 168km east of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Locals face the wind and rain in Florida. Picture: AP
Locals face the wind and rain in Florida. Picture: AP

Dorian was spiralling west north west, meaning steadily towards Florida’s peninsula.

The hurricane’s wrath had already started to impact the Florida coast with huge waves, storm surges, and harsh winds.

AIRPORTS CLOSED

As the hurricane headed for the US, airports were shut and US President Donald Trump declared an emergency in two states.

Palm Beach International Airport is closed and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was scheduled to close too. They are two of the three major airports serving South Florida.

Empty gates are seen at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Picture: AFP
Empty gates are seen at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Picture: AFP

More than 1200 Monday flights within, to and from the US had been cancelled by late Monday afternoon, with Fort Lauderdale in Florida the most impacted airport, according to the aviation tracking website FlightAware.com.

Flights across Florida were cancelled as the storm approached. Picture: AFP
Flights across Florida were cancelled as the storm approached. Picture: AFP

FlightAware also showed more than 900 flight cancellations for Tuesday within, to and from the US.

Miami International Airport remained open but warned travellers that it was expecting higher than normal traffic and to arrive early for their flights.

Cruise ship itineraries are also impacted.

Carnival Cruise Line has adjusted itineraries for numerous ships leaving out of Jacksonville, Port Canaveral and Charleston in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Trump approved emergency declarations for the states of Georgia and South Carolina because of Dorian, the White House announced.

The declarations authorise the Federal Emergency Management Agency to co-ordinate disaster relief efforts.

Floridians watch as waves lash the shore. Picture: Getty Images/AFP
Floridians watch as waves lash the shore. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Mr Trump was briefed on the hurricane during a visit to Fema headquarters in Washington on Sunday.

The president urged everyone in Dorian’s path to obey warnings and evacuation orders issued by local authorities, saying public safety “must always come first”.

‘NOT ONE TO PLAY WITH’

Meanwhile, Georgia’s governor is urging coastal residents to flee ahead of Hurricane Dorian, citing the storm’s powerful winds and uncertain path.

“This is not one to play with,” Governor Brian Kemp told reporters in Savannah.

It was Gov. Kemp’s first press conference since late on Sunday when he ordered mandatory evacuations in all six counties that make up Georgia’s 161km coastline.

Strong winds from Hurricane Dorian blow the tops of trees and brush in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Picture: AP
Strong winds from Hurricane Dorian blow the tops of trees and brush in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Picture: AP

Gov. Kemp said those living on Georgia’s barrier islands especially ought to flee, warning that emergency responders may not be able to reach them if causeways are underwater or blocked by debris.

Georgia officials plan to turn Interstate 16 linking Savannah and Macon into a one-way evacuation route on Tuesday (local time).

Police encourage locals to leave the area. Picture: Getty Images/AFP
Police encourage locals to leave the area. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

The state Department of Transportation is asking motorists to consider alternate routes in anticipation of additional evacuation traffic from Florida and South Carolina.

TERRIFYING FOOTAGE

A mother and her four-month old baby were trapped in an apartment by floodwaters in the Abaco Islands.

In a video posted online, she repeatedly says “Please pray for us” as the water rises around her.

Local radio reported that people were calling for help after winds blew the roof off the Island Breezes Hotel in Marsh Harbour, a commercial hub in the Abacos.

Many Abacos residents were reported to have opted to ride out the hurricane rather than heed government warnings to evacuate.

The Nassau Guardian quoted local resident Troy Albury as saying 150 people stayed behind in Guana Cay, in the centre of the Abacos, to face the storm’s fury.

Only eight left on the last ferry out, he said.

Earlier, tourists were sent to government shelters in schools, churches and other buildings offering protection from the storm while residents were evacuating.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis broke down in tears as he addressed a news conference, calling it “probably the most sad and worst day of my life,” the Nassau Guardian reported.

“We’re facing a hurricane … one that we’ve never seen in the history of the Bahamas,” he said.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/floridians-brace-for-what-could-be-the-most-powerful-storm-in-30-years/news-story/deb9f80f5ca1b227f69a50038bb586a1