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Hurricane Dorian death toll rises to 20 in The Bahamas

Seventeen of the fatalities were in the Abaco Islands where Dorian hit on Sunday and three were in Grand Bahama where it hit on Monday

Hurricane Dorian death toll rises to 20 in The Bahamas

(Photo: IANS)

At least 20 people were killed due to massive Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, according to Health Minister Duane Sands on Wednesday.

Sands said the figure is expected to rise, according to the Bahamas Press.

Seventeen of the fatalities were in the Abaco Islands where Dorian hit on Sunday and three were in Grand Bahama where it hit on Monday, he added.

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Three of the 20 died in a hospital in New Providence where the Bahamian capital, Nassau is located, the Efe news reported.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is scheduled to address the nation at 8 pm local time.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump called Minnis to offer his condolences for the deaths and damage caused by Dorian and pledged assistance to help the affected areas to recover, the White House reported.

On Tuesday, Hurricane Dorian moved to the northwest after brutally punishing the northern parts of the Bahamas for more than a day, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The Category 2 storm, with winds of 110 mph, was lashing central Florida’s east coast the National Hurricane Center said.

Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds are expected along the state’s coast as well as along the coasts of Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas, regardless of the hurricane’s exact track, the center said.

Houses in some areas of Grand Bahama, where Freeport is located, are covered to the roof by water, while many residents wait to be rescued.

Thousands of houses in the northern Bahamas were flooded by the storm surge from Dorian and streets look like flowing rivers.

In addition, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he had also spoken with Minnis and announced that he would grant economic aid to the Atlantic archipelago.

Rescue teams are continuing their work in the affected regions.

Bahamian National Security Minister Marvin Dames said that there are more than 600 police and Marines on Grand Bahama Island and nearly 100 in the Abaco Islands to assist with the rescue operation, according to local media.

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