This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-49553770
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? | Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Hurricane Dorian is continuing to batter the Bahamas - and appears to have virtually stalled over the islands. | |
| The slow-moving hurricane is the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas since records began, bringing sustained winds of up to 165mph (270km/h) and the risk of storm surges of up to 23ft (seven metres). | |
| It has now been downgraded from the highest, category five level, to category three, but officials warn of catastrophic winds and the risk of life-threatening floods. | |
| At least five people are reported to have been killed by the storm in the Abaco Islands, in the northern Bahamas. | |
| The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges west. | The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges west. |
| Where has been hit? | Where has been hit? |
| Dorian made landfall on Sunday (1 Sept) and has since moved only a very few miles across Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands in the north of the Bahamas archipelago. | |
| High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater are reported to have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. | High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater are reported to have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. |
| The National Hurricane Center described Dorian as "stationary" with maximum sustained winds of 125mph (205km/h), marking it as a category three on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. | |
| The total number of casualties is not clear as the emergency services have yet to reach some areas. | |
| The Red Cross fears some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. | |
| Many people in Grand Bahama have been forced to flee to the roofs of their homes to escape the rising floodwaters. | |
| Storm surges could be devastating | Storm surges could be devastating |
| The biggest danger to life and property in Grand Bahama could be from storm surges, which are predicted to be as high as 23ft above normal tide levels - with higher destructive waves. | The biggest danger to life and property in Grand Bahama could be from storm surges, which are predicted to be as high as 23ft above normal tide levels - with higher destructive waves. |
| Storm surges are caused when huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane-force winds. When they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. | Storm surges are caused when huge volumes of water are pushed by hurricane-force winds. When they meet land, the water surges inshore at levels far exceeding normal tides. |
| The eastern US states are also bracing for possible storm surges. | The eastern US states are also bracing for possible storm surges. |
| Where is it heading? | Where is it heading? |
| Meteorologists are watching the track of Dorian, trying to predict how close it will come to the United States coastline. As Dorian batters Grand Bahama, it sits only 120 miles (190km) from West Palm Beach, Florida. | Meteorologists are watching the track of Dorian, trying to predict how close it will come to the United States coastline. As Dorian batters Grand Bahama, it sits only 120 miles (190km) from West Palm Beach, Florida. |
| But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, tropical storm and hurricane-strength winds could still blast Florida and Georgia within days. | But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, tropical storm and hurricane-strength winds could still blast Florida and Georgia within days. |
| Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia. | Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia. |
| Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm could not be underestimated. | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm could not be underestimated. |
| "This storm at this magnitude could really cause massive destruction. Do not put your life in jeopardy by staying behind when you have a chance to get out," he said, urging people to observe evacuation orders when they were issued. | "This storm at this magnitude could really cause massive destruction. Do not put your life in jeopardy by staying behind when you have a chance to get out," he said, urging people to observe evacuation orders when they were issued. |
| Dorian's strength | Dorian's strength |
| At category five, Dorian was the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, with some gusts reaching 200mph (321km/h). It is the fifth Atlantic hurricane to reach the highest category in the last four years. | At category five, Dorian was the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, with some gusts reaching 200mph (321km/h). It is the fifth Atlantic hurricane to reach the highest category in the last four years. |
| Hurricane Irma in 2017 was also category five and causing widespread damage across the Leeward Islands, Caribbean and Florida keys, damaging roads, buildings, airports and harbours. | Hurricane Irma in 2017 was also category five and causing widespread damage across the Leeward Islands, Caribbean and Florida keys, damaging roads, buildings, airports and harbours. |
| Grand Bahama was also hit by category five Hurricane Matthew in 2016 - many residents had yet to fully rebuild their houses before Dorian's arrival. | Grand Bahama was also hit by category five Hurricane Matthew in 2016 - many residents had yet to fully rebuild their houses before Dorian's arrival. |
| How hurricanes happen | How hurricanes happen |