After massive damage in Haiti and in eastern Cuba, Hurricane Matthew began hitting the Bahamas on Wednesday.
The storm, which killed an unconfirmed number of people in Haiti, has already impacted the southeastern and central islands of the Bahamas and the eye of the Hurricane was set to pass near Andros Island and New Providence in the northwestern Bahamas this morning, then pass near Grand Bahama later today.
“This major storm, described by meteorologists as a category three or category four hurricane, is on course to impact the entire Bahamas, with potentially serious, and, in places, extremely dangerous consequences for our people and our country,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie.
The Bahamas had ordered widespread evacuations and sent multitudes to hurricane shelters across the 700-island archipelago, also deploying Defence Force teams to provide disaster support.
While Matthew had weakened from a Category 4 to a Category 3 hurricane, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was showing signs of strengthening as it came toward Florida.
Some strengthening was forecast for Matthew in the next few days as the storm heads to Florida.
Hurricane warnings remained in effect for:
- The Central Bahamas, including Long Island, Exuma, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Cat Island
- The Northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence