Freeport: After facing a category five catastrophic hurricane 'Dorian', the Caribbean country Bahamas has plunged into a historic tragedy due to its massive destruction, caused by the hurricane.
Aerial footage showed scenes of utter ruin in parts of the country on Tuesday in the wake of Dorian, the most powerful storm on record ever to hit the islands.
At least seven deaths were reported with the full scope of the disaster still unknown.
The storm's punishing winds and muddy brown floodwaters destroyed and severely damaged thousands of homes, crippled hospitals and trapped people in attics.
The storm's relentless winds and rain battered the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, which have a combined population of about 70,000.
Lia Head-Rigby, a representative of hurricane relief NGO 'The Bahamian Project' said that affected communities would need a 'full rebuild'.
A Red Cross spokesman said that over 13,000 houses, or about 45% of the homes in Grand Bahama and Abaco, were believed to have been severely damaged or destroyed.
After flying over the Abaco Islands, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said, "Our priority at this time is search, rescue, and recovery. I just want to thank all of those first responders, who are acting with the courage to save lives and to rescue those in need. We are seeing the courage of Bahamian volunteers who are coming to the rescue of others, using whatever resources they have available at their (hands)."
The national airport in Abaco was underwater with the runway completely flooded. Bahamian Prime Minister had said that the area around the airport 'now looks like a lake'.
Minnis added that 60% of homes were damaged in Marsh Harbour and at least one community was completely destroyed.
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