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In Bahamas, Stories of Survival From Hurricane Dorian Death Toll Rises to 23 in Bahamas, as Stories of Survival Emerge
(about 3 hours later)
NASSAU, Bahamas — Days after Hurricane Dorian bore down on the Bahamas as one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, harrowing stories of survival have trickled out. NASSAU, Bahamas — Days after Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, bore down on the Bahamas, a fuller picture from the ground has emerged, and with it, harrowing stories of survival.
Even as officials were taking stock of the true toll of the storm — at least 20 people dead — relatives of some residents of the Abaco Islands, in the north of the archipelago, were beginning to slowly reunite with their loved ones. Even as officials were taking stock of the storm’s toll Thursday — at least 23 people dead — relatives of some residents of the Abaco Islands, in the north of the archipelago, were beginning to slowly reunite with their loved ones.
Sandra Cooke, a resident of Nassau, was finally reunited with her sister-in-law on Tuesday, she said, after the roof had collapsed on her during the storm. Ms. Cooke’s brother couldn’t find her at first, but the family dog eventually detected her in the rubble. Sandra Cooke, a resident of Nassau, said that during the storm, a roof on an Abaco Island building had collapsed on her sister-in-law. Her brother couldn’t find his wife at first, but the family dog eventually detected her in the rubble. When there was a break in the storm, neighbors helped free her.
The brother, however, could not lift the roof off his wife. When there was a break in the storm, neighbors helped free her. Ms. Cooke was reunited with her sister-in-law on Tuesday.
“She was trapped under the roof for 17 hours,” Ms. Cooke said from Nassau on Wednesday, adding that she had hired a private helicopter service to rescue her. “She was trapped under the roof for 17 hours,” said Ms. Cooke, a resident of Nassau, on Wednesday, adding that she had hired a private helicopter service to take the rescued woman to Nassau.
Since Hurricane Dorian battered the Bahamas, the damage to the islands’ infrastructure has been visible from above for days. But such stories of rescues and resilience are now being heard. Early Thursday, officials were also taking stock of the true toll of the storm.
[Here’s how to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.][Here’s how to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.]
Marvin Dames, the minister of national security, said at a news conference Wednesday night that the process of clearing the streets and making airports available had already begun on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, two areas hit hardest by the hurricane. Marvin Dames, the minister of national security, said at a news conference on Wednesday night that the process of clearing the streets and making airports available had already begun on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, two areas hit hardest by the hurricane.
Aerial footage taken over the Abaco Islands showed roads washed away and debris scattered across beaches. Splintered wood jutted from clusters of damaged homes.
Gaining access to Abaco has been problematic, with the island’s airport, Leonard M. Thompson International, left underwater for days after the storm. Some people resorted to private companies to aid in the evacuations.
A British Navy vessel is stationed at Abaco for relief support and has been distributing food and water.A British Navy vessel is stationed at Abaco for relief support and has been distributing food and water.
The Norwegian energy company Equinor said the hurricane had damaged its oil storage terminal, which was leaking. The company said it was too early to tell how much oil had spilled.
During a flight Wednesday over the company’s terminal, which is at South Riding Point, The Times saw storage tanks that appeared to have no lid. The domed tops of five of its tanks were “gone,” a company spokesman said, but only three contained significant amounts of oil before the hurricane. Oil was visible on the ground surrounding the tanks, but the seawater around the terminal was clear.
“Ahead of the hurricane we shut down the terminal as a precautionary measure and the terminal has been designed with hurricanes and storms in mind,” said Erik Haaland, a company spokesman. “The areas surrounding the tanks are also designed as barriers to contain oil spills. So far we have not received information that oil has been observed at sea.”
Some areas near the terminal had been evacuated at the request of local authorities. The company was still trying to establish a better overview of the terminal and said it was “mounting a safe and timely response to the situation.”
“While weather conditions on the island have improved, road conditions and flooding continue to impact our ability to assess the situation and the scope of damages to the terminal and its surroundings,” the statement said.
No Equinor employees were at the terminal when the storm passed. Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, said it shut down operations of the terminal at noon last Saturday in preparation for the hurricane. The workers were given time off to look after their families and secure their private homes, the statement said.
The storm made landfall in the Bahamas on Sunday as a Category 5 hurricane and stalled there for three days, inundating the islands and destroying homes and businesses.The storm made landfall in the Bahamas on Sunday as a Category 5 hurricane and stalled there for three days, inundating the islands and destroying homes and businesses.
In the days since, the storm has weakened significantly, and by Thursday morning was swirling off the coast of the Carolinas as a Category 3 hurricane. Residents there were bracing for dangerous rain, winds and storm surge.In the days since, the storm has weakened significantly, and by Thursday morning was swirling off the coast of the Carolinas as a Category 3 hurricane. Residents there were bracing for dangerous rain, winds and storm surge.
[The Carolinas are next in Hurricane Dorian’s path. We have live updates.][The Carolinas are next in Hurricane Dorian’s path. We have live updates.]
But as Dorian turned north, the trail of destruction emerging in the Bahamas left the nation stunned. In the Bahamas, officials made pleas for support and prayers from the international community.
Aerial footage taken over the Abaco Islands showed the devastation: Roads were washed away and debris scattered across beaches. Splintered wood jutted from clusters of damaged homes.
Gaining access to Abaco has been problematic, with the island’s airport, Leonard M. Thompson International, left underwater for days after the storm. Some people resorted to private companies to aid in the evacuations.
Officials made pleas for support and prayers from the international community.
“There are no words to convey the grief we feel for our fellow Bahamians in the Abacos and Grand Bahama,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, the tourism and aviation minister, said in a statement. “Now is the time to come together for our brothers and sisters in need, and help our country get back on its feet.”“There are no words to convey the grief we feel for our fellow Bahamians in the Abacos and Grand Bahama,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, the tourism and aviation minister, said in a statement. “Now is the time to come together for our brothers and sisters in need, and help our country get back on its feet.”
He urged travelers to visit areas in the Bahamas that were not affected by the storm in order to aid the country’s economic recovery.He urged travelers to visit areas in the Bahamas that were not affected by the storm in order to aid the country’s economic recovery.