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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? | Hurricane Dorian: Who's at risk? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hurricane Dorian has left a trail of devastation across the Bahamas in its wake as it starts to edge northwards along the US east coast. | Hurricane Dorian has left a trail of devastation across the Bahamas in its wake as it starts to edge northwards along the US east coast. |
| The slow-moving hurricane was the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas since records began, bringing sustained winds of up to 165mph (270km/h) at its peak, storm surges and flooding. | The slow-moving hurricane was the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas since records began, bringing sustained winds of up to 165mph (270km/h) at its peak, storm surges and flooding. |
| It appeared to stall over the islands on Monday, intensifying the destruction. | It appeared to stall over the islands on Monday, intensifying the destruction. |
| It has now been downgraded from the highest, category five level, to category two, but officials say the storm is still producing strong gusts of 140mph and storm surges of 10ft-15ft above normal. | It has now been downgraded from the highest, category five level, to category two, but officials say the storm is still producing strong gusts of 140mph and storm surges of 10ft-15ft above normal. |
| At least seven people have been killed by the storm in the Abaco Islands, in the northern Bahamas, and numbers are expected to rise. | At least seven people have been killed by the storm in the Abaco Islands, in the northern Bahamas, and numbers are expected to rise. |
| The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges northwards. | The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all issued states of emergency as Dorian edges northwards. |
| Where's been hit? | |
| Dorian made landfall on Sunday (1 Sept) and then moved very slowly on Monday and Tuesday across Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands in the north of the Bahamas archipelago. By Wednesday it was 135km southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. | |
| High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. | High winds, heavy rain and flooding seawater have caused major damage to homes and property on the islands. |
| Aerial images over the Abacos showed miles of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels. | Aerial images over the Abacos showed miles of destruction, with roofs torn off, scattered debris, overturned cars, shipping containers and boats, and high water levels. |
| - Destruction of the Abaco Islands | |
| The total number of casualties is not clear as the emergency services have yet to reach some areas - but the Bahamas' PM Hubert Minnis said he expected the number of dead to increase. | The total number of casualties is not clear as the emergency services have yet to reach some areas - but the Bahamas' PM Hubert Minnis said he expected the number of dead to increase. |
| The Red Cross fears some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. | The Red Cross fears some 13,000 homes have been severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. |
| Many people in Grand Bahama were forced to flee to the roofs of their homes to escape the rising floodwaters. | Many people in Grand Bahama were forced to flee to the roofs of their homes to escape the rising floodwaters. |
| Storm surges could be devastating | Storm surges could be devastating |
| As well as dangerous wind speeds, authorities are warning coastal residents of life-threatening storm surges. | As well as dangerous wind speeds, authorities are warning coastal residents of life-threatening storm surges. |
| 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. |
| Where is it heading? | Where is it heading? |
| The NHC is expecting Dorian to track northward, parallel to the east coast of Florida on Wednesday. | The NHC is expecting Dorian to track northward, parallel to the east coast of Florida on Wednesday. |
| But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, storm-strength winds could still blast the coastal states and storm surge warnings are in force. | But even if the eye of the storm does not make US landfall, storm-strength winds could still blast the coastal states and storm surge warnings are in force. |
| Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia and the Red Cross says more than 12,000 people spent Tuesday night in their evacuation centres, | Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal communities of South Carolina and Georgia and the Red Cross says more than 12,000 people spent Tuesday night in their evacuation centres, |
| Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm should not be underestimated. | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the strength of the storm should 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 caused 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 caused 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 |