Dorian has moved into the Bahamas. The hurricane has been measured as a five on the hurricane scale and is the strongest to hit the island nation so far.
With wind speeds of 79 meters per second, Hurricane Dorian moved into the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas on Sunday. According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Dorian is the most powerful hurricane to hit the country.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis cried when he met with the press in the capital, Nassau.
”"As I now address the people of the Bahamas, it is probably the saddest and worst day of my life," he said, according to the local newspaper Nassau Guardian, and continued:
”We are facing a hurricane the likes of which we have never seen before in the Bahamas.”
According to Minnis, houses in the Bahamas are being built to withstand wind speeds of up to 41 meters per second, far below those measured in connection with Dorian.
”So this will be a test like we’ve never had before.”
On the island of Great Guyana Cay, just off the main island of Abaco Island, there are reports of high waves crashing ashore and low-lying areas already flooded. The hurricane-force winds have also reportedly blown roofs off houses.
”"Catastrophic hurricane conditions are affecting the Abaco Islands and will spread to Grand Bahamas later today and tonight," the NHC wrote in an update on the hurricane's progress.
Dorian will cause high waves along the northern coast of Grand Bahamas and the northern and eastern coasts of Abaco for at least two days, according to Jeffery Simmons, deputy director of the Bahamas Weather Authority.
”"We are asking residents in these areas to leave the coast, we are expecting storm surges of up to four and a half meters," says Simmons.
Prime Minister Minnis has also urged residents to evacuate, warning that rescue workers will not be able to rescue those in need in the severe weather.
But at least 150 people on Guyana Cay have decided to stay, according to Nassau Guardian.
”"Our house is solidly built. It's more than three meters above sea level. My house is not going to move," island resident Troy Albury told the newspaper.
According to forecasts, the storm may pass the US state of Florida without reaching land.
In the US state of South Carolina, however, as in Georgia and Florida earlier this week, a state of emergency has been declared ahead of the hurricane's arrival, which is expected at the beginning of the week.
