An eight-year-old boy has become the first victim of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.
On Sunday, Hurricane Dorian was updated to a Category 5 status, the highest possible category on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) used on hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies, 13,000 homes in the Bahamas have been destroyed or damaged as a result of the hurricane so far.
On Monday, it was confirmed that an eight-year-old boy from the Bahamas had become the first victim of the Hurricane.
The extensive flooding is believed to have contaminated wells with saltwater, creating an urgent need for clean water.
Sune Bulow, Head of the IFRC Emergency Operation Centre in Geneva, said:
“We don’t yet have a complete picture of what has happened. But it is clear that Hurricane Dorian has had a catastrophic impact. We anticipate extensive shelter needs, alongside the need for short-term economic support, as well as for clean water and health assistance.”
US President Donald Trump spoke about the severity of the hurricane on Sunday, saying: “I’m not sure I’ve even heard of a Category 5.”
Similarly, the Chief Meteorologist at ABC took to Twitter to describe the satellite view of Hurricane Dorian as unlike anything he has ever seen.
This view of Hurricane Dorian is unlike anything I have ever seen. 📷 NASA pic.twitter.com/ScbhTI9Gw3
— Denis Phillips (@DenisPhillipsWx) September 1, 2019
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