Family of Award Winning Actor Sidney Poitier Is Missing in Aftermath of Hurricane Dorian

Actors Morgan Freeman and Sir Sidney Poitier (R) attend the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony in Culver City, Calif., on June 9, 2011. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI

More than a dozen family members of a renowned American actor are missing after a category five storm devastated the Caribbean on September 1.

The whereabouts of more than 23 extended family members of Sir Sidney Poitier, 92, remains unknown after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas.

Nephew and film producer Jeffrey Poitier, 66, has not heard from several of his relatives who live in Freeport, 132 miles northwest of Nassau.

Jeffrey confirmed with the Daily Mail he has been unable to contact his adult children and his sister Barbara Poitier.

“We still couldn’t find anyone, nor have we heard from them,” he told the publication. “We are still looking for and waiting for them to appear soon; it has us all worried.”

Jeffrey revealed he had previously tried many times to contact his family members in different ways without success.

“We are trying to reach out to them using every means available to us, but we are not hearing anything,” he said. “We are deeply worried.”

The United States is assisting the Bahamas government with search and rescue efforts.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) confirmed with the Associated Press (AP) it had rescued 290 people in the Bahamas following the hurricane. Six MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters are continuing to search for and rescue survivors, while nine cutters are also helping.

They are still trying to reach some communities that have been isolated by floodwaters and debris and have confirmed at least 43 deaths.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced $1 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help Bahamians, bringing USAID’s total funding to more than $2.8 million.

Meanwhile, the United Nations is arranging eight tons of food supplies to be shipped to the Bahamas, including 14,700 ready-to-eat meals as well as logistical and telecommunications equipment.

“The needs remain enormous,” U.N. World Food Program spokesperson Herve Verhoosel said according to A.P.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and “brave people of the Bahamas” for helping to prevent “many more casualties” in the disaster area.

“The USCG, FEMA, and all others, along with other countries that have been helping, have been asked to move people in the badly hit sections of the Bahamas to other sections of the Bahamas that were not hit—and that are in good condition,” Trump said on Twitter. “Any cruise ship companies willing to act as stationary housing, etc., I am sure would be appreciated.”

However, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis revealed more deaths are likely to be confirmed as the search and rescue effort continues.

“We acknowledge that there are many missing and that the number of deaths is expected to significantly increase,” he said according to the Daily Mail. “This is one of the stark realities we are facing in this hour of darkness.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.