Hurricane Dorian Leaves ‘Pure Hell’ on Grand Abaco Island, Bahamas

More videos of devastation surface

This GOES-16 satellite image taken at 17:00 UTC on Sept. 1, 2019, shows Hurricane Dorian (R) churning over the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA via AP

“Pure hell” is how ABC News correspondent Marcus Moore described the scene after Hurricane Dorian passed over Marsh Harbour on Grand Abaco Island, Bahamas.

“I have seen utter devastation here in Marsh Harbour. We are surrounded by water with no way out,” Moore said on Sunday, Sept. 1. “Absolute devastation, there really are no words it is pure hell here on Marsh Harbour on the Aboca islands in the northern part of the Bahamas.”

Jenise Fernandez, a reporter with WPLG based in South Florida, was also in Marsh Harbor.

“I have never seen anything like this in my life,” she said. “The damage we are seeing right now is outstanding. It is astonishing, really.”

Fernandez said that the roof in the hotel where she was staying was ripped off. Balconies were seen hanging from the building’s side.

“May God bless us all” is what Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said during a press conference earlier on Sunday.

“It’s devastating,” said Joy Jibrilu, the director general of the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, told The Associated Press. “There has been huge damage to property and infrastructure. Luckily, no loss of life reported.”

Hurricane chaser Josh Morgerman tweeted: “11:40 am. Pounding. CRASHING. Boards prying off windows. We’re moving children to a safe space, wrapping them in blankets. 969 mg.”

Video footage on Twitter by local newspaper The Tribune apparently showed widespread destruction on Abaco.

As of 6 p.m., the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Dorian is presenting “a life-threatening situation” and noted that “residents in the Abacos should continue to stay in their shelter as the eastern eyewall of Dorian is over the area.”

The storm still has wind speeds of 185 mph with gusts over 220 mph, the agency warned. A storm surge of 18 to 23 feet is expected.

The storm is now 75 miles east of Freeport on Grand Bahama Island and moving slowly at 5 mph to the west.

“These hazards will cause extreme destruction in the affected areas and will continue for several hours,” the agency said.