Duane Sands, the Bahamas Health Minister, has stated that as many as 20 people have died as a result of the Hurricane Dorian. Hurricane Dorian has devasted the Bahamas as it hit the Caribbean nation on September 1, ravaging through the nation and causing heavy damage to Abaco Island and Grand Bahama island.

“At this point, we are starting to get a more vivid picture of the loss of life, at least in Abaco, and the loss of life in Grand Bahama", said the Health Minister. He further stated that 17 people had died in Abaco, while 3 had died in the Grand Bahama. 

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Dorian's trail of disaster

Hurrican Dorian has caused vast damage to the Bahamas and the United States. It was labeled as a Category 5 Hurricane when it made landfall in the Bahamas. On Thursday morning, the hurricane was labeled as Category 3 as it approached Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia in the United States. Hurricane Dorian will pick up forward speed and make its way near the Carolina coast and then into the waters around the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada later in the weekend. Dorian is the most intense hurricane in terms of wind on record for so far north over the Atlantic.

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Rescue operations and the needs of the stranded

The US Coast Guard and the Royal Navy of Britain have airlifted survivors and ferried in supplies. As per the United Nations, 70,000 people in Bahamas were in "immediate need" of aid. The Bahamas PM, Hubert Minnis, has been regularly assessing the situation and said, "We are in the midst of one of the greatest national crises in our country's history. We can expect more deaths to be recorded. This is just preliminary information."

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also issued a statement saying "Dorian’s ferocious Category 5 winds and rains have damaged houses and other buildings, leaving many people without adequate shelter. As many as 13,000 houses may have been severely damaged or destroyed. On the island of Abaco, extensive flooding is believed to have contaminated wells with salt water, creating an urgent need for clean water."

The UN World Food Programme said, "Food may be required for 14,500 people in the Abaco Islands and for 45,700 people in Grand Bahama."

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