Five dead in Bahamas from Dorian as storm threatens US coast
Officials warn storm is still 'extremely dangerous' as it approaches US mainland
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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.
Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency as Hurricane Dorian approaches the US mainland.
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
Welcome to our live coverage of Hurricane Dorian's progress.
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.
Andrew Buncombe has the latest from the Bahamas, which has suffered major damage from the storm.
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.”
Earlier today, ABC News received video footage of the aftermath from Dorian's passage over the Bahamas.
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.”
This is the predicted path of the storm (as of 11am today) which is set to move "dangerously close" to the US east coast.
Earlier today, Bahamas Press reported the first death from hurricane Dorian - a seven-year-old boy, Lachino Mcintosh, is believed to have drowned.
However, his death has not been officially confirmed.
The latest update from the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) has warned that Dorian is “wobbling” over the Bahamas’ northernmost island.
Grand Bahama residents have been advised to remain in their shelters as the situation is still “life-threatening”.
The NHC is expecting “extreme destruction” on the island.
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