‘Unprecedented’: Monster Hurricane Dorian aftermath

The devastation caused by deadly Hurricane Dorian has been described as “jaw dropping” and “war zone-like” after the horror storm left five dead.

Heartbreaking scenes are unfolding in the Bahamas as people survey damage of the “war zone-like” area in the wake of devastating Hurricane Dorian.

One man says “everything is destroyed” as he walks down the street filming the carnage as massive boats are strewn across the street, car windows are smashed and remnants of roof are scattered everywhere.

Another person filmed masses of water pooling on the second floor of their home.

“Holy hell. This is the SECOND floor. Terrifying. The sound alone is scary,” responded another person to the video posted on Twitter.

A home is flooded after Hurricane Dorian. Picture: @6INNER/Twitter

The war zone-like scene after Hurricane Dorian. Picture: sohoneydipped/Instagram

At least five people are dead after the devastating storm pounded the Bahamas in what’s been dubbed a “historic tragedy”.

Hurricane Dorian has unleashed massive flooding and winds of 320kph on the archipelago, in what’s estimated to be the second-most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Blinding rain, rising flood levels and power failures have gripped the Bahamas, with officials citing chilling reports of bodies left floating in the water.

“From all accounts, we have received catastrophic damage to Abaco,” said Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs Darren Henfield.

“We have reports of casualties. We have reports of bodies being seen.”

Among the dead was 68-year-old David Allen Bradley who fell three stories while preparing for the hurricane, covering up his home’s windows with plywood.

More than 2700 flights in and out of the US have been cancelled as the hurricane still hovers over Grand Bahama with winds of 225km/h.

This photo is remarkable and ominous. This is #Dorian’s eye, and this was taken by the crew aboard the @Space_Station. #HurricaneDorian pic.twitter.com/2WL9ds80Kj

— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) September 3, 2019

The hurricane is forecast to start moving again towards Florida’s east coast overnight and into Tuesday morning. It will move “dangerously close” to Florida late Tuesday and into Wednesday evening, then move toward the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and into Thursday.

It’s already prompted mass evacuations on the central Florida coast.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said the devastation was “unprecedented” in the Abaco Islands, which received the full brunt of Dorian as it came ashore Sunday.

“We are in the midst of a historic tragedy,” he said.

“Our focus right now is rescue, recovery and prayer.”

Emergency responders said many thousands of homes and vehicles have been damaged or destroyed.

“There’s damages everywhere around my area,” Marsh Habour resident Vernal Cooper said, CNN reported.

“Cars and houses destroyed. This is what’s left of Marsh Harbour.”

This satellite image obtained from NOAA/RAMMB, shows Tropical Storm Dorian as it approaches the Bahamas. Picture: NOAA/AFP

FOOTAGE CAPTURES STORM’S DEVASTATION

Residents and officials in the Bahamas earlier captured frightening footage of Hurricane Dorian wreaking havoc on the region.

Abaco resident Ramond King captured scenes of desolation in footage provided to AFP, showing flooded streets strewn with trees and downed power lines and at least one home washed clearly away.

“Look at this,” he can be heard saying. “We need help, everything down. Everything down. Look at my roof off, my house. I still got life. Thank God for life. I can rebuild.

“The tornado came from around this side... My neighbour used to live there. His house ain’t even there.”

Other footage showed Grand Bahama International Airport swamped by water.

Seemingly endless tragedy in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. pic.twitter.com/uWv4Rq6l3N

— Patrick Oppmann CNN (@CNN_Oppmann) September 1, 2019

Hurricane Update: Iram Lewis,
Member of Parliament,
Central Grand Bahama sent me this video of Freeport International Airport: FPO pic.twitter.com/oDPIJXBnP9

— Dem House Leader (@kionnemcghee) September 2, 2019

Minister of Agriculture and Marco City MP Michael Pintard, who lives on Grand Bahama, showing some utterly frightening footage of his home during the passage of Hurricane Dorian. pic.twitter.com/gugVsLMroB

— Travis C-Carroll (@TravisCC) September 2, 2019

Dorian weakened slightly on Monday to a still-devastating Category 4 storm, punishing Grand Bahama with “life-threatening storm surge and catastrophic winds,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said.

Fear gripped residents of Freeport, as winds tore off shutters and water began coming into homes, resident Yasmin Rigby said, reached by text in the Grand Bahama island’s main city.

“People who thought they were safe are now calling for help,” Ms Rigby said.

“My best friend’s husband is stuck in the roof of their house with 7 ft water below.”

Initial Red Cross estimates were that 13,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed by Dorian, officials in Geneva said.

Suomi NPP image of Hurricane Dorian showing its well-defined eye as it passed over Dorian at 3.20am EDT (0720 UTC). Picture: NASA/NOAA/UWM-SSEC-CIMSS/William Straka III

Lightning tonight in Hurricane Dorian. Breathtaking view from space. pic.twitter.com/DckkNG15yz

— Sci-Tech Universe Zone (@scitechofficial) September 2, 2019

‘GET OUT NOW’

Video posted on the website of the Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 showed water up to the roofs of wooden houses in what appeared to be a coastal town.

Capsized boats floated in muddy brown water dotted with wooden boards, tree branches and other debris.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center forecast an 18 to 23 foot storm surge above tide levels in parts of Grand Bahama, accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Water levels in the Abacos, swamped by a similar surge Sunday, were expected to slowly subside.

“On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island through much of today and tonight,” the NHC said.

“The hurricane will move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late tonight through Wednesday evening, and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday.”

All three eastern US states have ordered coastal residents to evacuate, affecting close to a million people.

Neighbouring North Carolina has also declared a state of emergency.

“A slight wobble West would bring this Cat 5 storm on shore with devastating consequences,” said Florida Governor Rick Scott on Twitter.

“If you’re in an evacuation zone, get out NOW. We can rebuild your home. We can’t rebuild your life.”

MOTHER TRAPPED WITH BABY

Dramatic footage of a mother pleading for prayers as floodwaters brought by Hurricane Dorian surge around her apartment building in the Bahamas has emerged online.

“Please pray for us. Me and my baby, everyone that stay in this apartment building, we stuck right here,” the woman says, as the rapid water flows over cars below her.

“My baby’s only four months old. Please pray for us,” she urges.

Posted by Jetta Clavi on Sunday, 1 September 2019

Hurricane Dorian continued to pound the Bahamas on Monday after making landfall as a category five storm over the Abaco Islands on Sunday.

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 first recorded death of Hurricane Dorian has now been confirmed as seven year-old Lachino Mcintosh. Picture: Twitter

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

More footage posted on Facebook showed houses flooded up to their windows at Marsh Harbour, a neighbourhood on Great Abaco Island.

😢🙏🏽💔🇧🇸

Posted by Alicia Nesbitt on Sunday, 1 September 2019

Monster storm Dorian unleashed "catastrophic conditions" as it hit the northwestern Bahamas Sunday, becoming the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the region, US forecasters said. Picture: HO / NOAA/RAMMB / AFP.

Another video showed a man walking through shin-deep water inside his home at Freeport on Grand Bahama.

“The house is actually sealed really well,” he says, as higher floodwaters lap at his windows outside.

Pray for us in Freeport!! #HurricaneDorian2019 #HurricaneDorian242 pic.twitter.com/BobWWHvlJR

— LaToy Williams (@Toy242) September 2, 2019

RELATED:   Incredible photos from inside the eye of Hurricane Dorian

Florida residents hang plywood over their windows in preparation for the storm. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

Disabled Navy veteran Joe Lewis stands outside his mobile home in Jensen Beach, in Florida, on September 1, 2019, in an area that he was just informed is under mandatory evacuation. Picture: Adam DelGiudice / AFP.

Hurricane Dorian is the most powerful Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall, equalling the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 which hit before storms were named.

The only other recorded storm that was more powerful was Hurricane Allen in 1980, with 305 kilometres per hour winds, though it did not make landfall at that strength.

- with wires