Photos and videos began to emerge Sunday as Hurricane Dorian, one of the most powerful storms on record, made landfall in the Bahamas.
The eye of Dorian, which has sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts up to 220 mph, made its first landfall in the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas Sunday. People were warned to evacuate or seek refuge in hurricane shelters, but some, including storm hunters from other countries remained.
Video posted to Twitter shows the strong winds savaging homes, devastating storm surge, and torrential rain.
#HurricaneDorian is raking Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island in the #Bahamas. The storm surge and hurricane force winds are already taking their toll as it slows down and stalls.
? Patrick Tully pic.twitter.com/2BWbgQPmba— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) September 1, 2019
Abaco Island #Bahamas ? #PrayForTheBahamas #HurricaneDorian2019 #Dorian #HurricaneDorian ??? pic.twitter.com/4aTEeXqLRd
— Máximo Alexander (@MaximoSPQR) September 1, 2019
Abaco Island under water right now #HurricaneDorian2019 #Dorian #HurricaneDorian #Dorian2019 #Bahamas ??? pic.twitter.com/gTF8zRNkCy
— Máximo Alexander (@MaximoSPQR) September 1, 2019
Other videos appear to be from when Dorian’s eye passed over, giving a brief and eerie reprieve from the chaos, but revealing the magnitude of the storm’s wrath.
Some of the effects of #Dorian on Abaco Island, Bahamas ????. Courtesy of @ferguslay whatsapp story. Prayers ?????? going up for a sustainable and quick recovery for the residents on this island. pic.twitter.com/1GhnQSgeKE
— Andrew Rodgers (@AnjuxR) September 1, 2019
WATCH: The eye of Hurricane #Dorian has made a second landfall on Great #Abaco Island near Marsh Harbour in the #Bahamas. Severe damage is present.pic.twitter.com/hlmavuhciO
— DMM News (@DMM_News_) September 1, 2019
The National Hurricane Service warned residents not to leave during the calm of the eye, which is only brief before the other side of the eyewall hits.
“This is a life-threatening situation. Residents there should take immediate shelter. Do not venture into the eye if it passes over your location,” the NHC advised.
The slow-moving storm will continue to wallop the Bahamas for hours as it makes its way slowly westward before forecasters expect it to turn north.
Based on 11AM Sun NHC advisory, timing for “most likely” arrival (and departure) of tropical storm (yellow) & hurricane (red) force winds. Note long duration of wind event due to Dorian’s slow motion. Any shifts in the track would shift these wind fields. #SetzerSays @cbsmiami pic.twitter.com/DBflSADkg1
— Craig Setzer (@CraigSetzer) September 1, 2019
