Scenes of staggering devastation in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian are starting to emerge after the monster storm finally moved off from Grand Bahama, where it left an island that’s home to 50,000 people 70% under water.
Satellite images showed the extent of the storm surge at its peak, covering huge swaths of land.
Some areas saw waters rise up to 23 feet above normal, with parts of the island receiving an additional 30 inches of rain, NPR reported.
According to stats from the Bahamian government, about 70% of Grand Bahama was left submerged .
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“It’s not looking good as we expect catastrophic damage,” Bahamas Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Kevin Peter Turnquest told Bloomberg.
Scenes from Abaco Island confirmed Turnquest’s expectations of widespread damage.
Abaco Island was the first hit by Hurricane Dorian, before it moved on to Grand Bahama.
Pilots flying over Abaco took video showing the airport under three feet of water as they listed off all the places they would normally expect to see that were now gone.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Dorain paused over Grand Bahama.
For two days, the storm battered the island with tornado-force winds, shredding buildings while surge waters inundated the land.
Dorian finally moved off the island late Tuesday, and when morning broke on Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Agency sent out an “urgent plea” to owners of jet skis, small boats, trucks, and buses to assemble and help with rescue operations.
It will take some time to tally the toll of Hurricane Dorian on Grand Bahama.
According to the Red Cross, an estimated 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the Bahamas. The airport in Freeport is reportedly under six feet of water.
The official death toll currently stands at only seven, but that’s expected to rise as many have reported seeing bodies in the water, and pleas for information about missing loved ones are spreading.
Rescue efforts are still in the early stages.
The U.S. Coast Guard has dispatched helicopters to help out, and have so far rescued at least 45 people, CBS reported. The British Royal Navy sent a vessel to help out as well, and Chef Jose Andres’ organization, World Central Kitchen, will be delivering thousands of meals to both Abaco and Grand Bahama, while the Bahamas government is dispatching police to maintain security.
“We are in the midst of one of the greatest national crises in our country’s history,” said Prime Minister Hubert Minis. “It is going to require a massive coordinated effort to rebuild.”
