Hurricane Dorian

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said some areas had been "decimated" and expected the current death toll of seven would rise.

The hurricane winds that hit the Abaco Islands equalled the highest ever recorded at landfall, and Grand Bahama also suffered severe damage and floods.

Mr Minnis said the Bahamas was facing "one of the greatest national crises in our country's history".

Lia Head-Rigby, who runs a relief group and overflew the Abacos, said her representatives had told her there were "a lot more dead".

The "extremely dangerous" storm is the strongest hurricane on modern record in the area, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

Grand Bahama residents have been evacuating from its predicted path.

A storm surge could be life-threatening and as high as 23ft (7m) in places, officials warn.

The storm made landfall at 12:40 (16:40 GMT) on Elbow Cay in the Abaco islands, northern Bahamas, the NHC said.

Local residents posted footage showing floodwaters engulfing some homes, their rooftops blown off.