Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas and caused a still undetermined extent of destruction.
There at least 5 reported deaths, while the Red Cross initially reported that at least 13,000 homes may have been destroyed or severely damaged.
The U.N. World Food Programme reported that Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas may require food for 14,500 people and Grand Bahamas for 45,700 people.
The National Hurricane Center said in an advisory issued on Tuesday afternoon that Dorian had sustained winds of 110 miles per hour (175 km per hour) and was moving northwest at 5 mph (8 kph), as it churned about 105 miles 170 kms) east of Vero Beach, Florida and has battered through the Bahamas for three days.
Reuters reported that the exact toll of the devastation will not be clear until the storm completely passes and rescue crews start working.
So far, stranded residents are reached by their friends and rescuers via jet skis and boats.
Agence-France Presse reported that in terms of strength, the Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project reported that Dorian, with its maximum sustained winds of 185 miles (300 kilometers) per hour is tied in second place with 1998’s Gilbert and 2005’s Wilma as the most powerful Atlantic hurricane since 1950.
In the first place is 1980’s Allen, which had maximum sustained winds of 190 mph.
However, Dorian is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the Bahamas by pressure.
According to data from NASA, Dorian hovered over the Bahamas 18 hours, during which time it dumped in excess of 24 inches (60 cm) of rainfall.
Storm surges, meanwhile, were estimated by the NHC at 10- to 15-foot (3m to 4.5m) above tide levels.
In a separate report by the Washington Post, Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane — the slowest-moving Category 5 storm on record in the North Atlantic Basin.
According to the report the eyewall bombarded Grand Bahama Island for 40 hours straight that began at 8:08 p.m. Sunday night until Dorian left at around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
