Update as of Sept 7, 2019

Sources : Bahamas Government Press Conference, French Press Agency dispatch.

Hurricane Dorian death toll climbed to 43 and is expected to rise 'significantly' with hundreds missing even as rescuers plucked desperate survivors from the debris. Health Minister says the final number of death will be staggering. The authorities fear that the harsh health conditions will further increase the human toll, the figures of which they are very cautious in reporting.

According to UN relief officials, more than 70,000 people -- virtually the entire population of Grand Bahama and Abaco -- are in need of assistance after the storm reduced homes to matchsticks and destroyed people's livelihoods.

First responders are rescuing those who survived while rapid assessment of damages are being conducted on the field.

An active evacuation plan is in place. Medical evacuations are organized particularly from Abaco, and also Grand Bahama. Hundreds of persons are being evacuated from Grand Bahama and Abaco to Naussau by Bahamas air, private airline and the US coast gards. Evacuees are registered and provided with supplies and shelther. They expect between 600-900 persons coming through in the next couple of days. 1,000 hot meals are distributed. 

The multinational relief effort, which also includes Britain's Royal Navy and several non-governmental organizations, has been hampered by flood damage to airport runways, destroyed piers and docks and downed communications. France has announced the deployment, as part of a European mission, of several dozen soldiers to participate in the relief effort. And US President promised the help of the United States, whose coastguard are already at work in the Bahamas.

As survivors began the first steps of rebuilding their lives, arrangements were being made to take care of the dead and the Bahamian authorities were seeking to account for the missing. Sands said extra morticians and refrigerated coolers to store bodies were being sent to the affected islands. Mortuary workers in white hazmat suits, blue gloves and masks could be seen in Marsh Harbour carrying corpses in green body bags and loading them onto flatbed trucks.

2nd Sept, 2019 - Press Conference, Government, NEMA Headquarters

"It is a historic tragedy" said PM Mennis. Hurricane Dorian is a Category 4 hurricane still capable of giving catastrophic damages with wind speed of 285km/h. It is moving extremely slowly (2km/h) battering Grand Bahama, still for many hours. The all-clear (which is issued when there is no longer any tropical storm force winds affecting land) is not expected to be given before 7 PM on Sept 2 in Abaco and before 10 PM tomorrow, Sept 3, for Grand Bahama.

Thus far, 5 deaths are confirmed in Abaco, 25 seriously injured and a number of other persons injured being investigated. Unprecedented damages are reported with complete or extensive destruction of infrastructure – business, homes. According to Red Cross, there are 76,278 people affected out of a population of ca 350,000.
US have rescued a nb of individuals that have be taken to the Princess Margaret hospital.

The Bahamas is presently focused on protecting the population, rescue, and recovery. Search and rescue teams are on the ground. The PM insisted on the fact that the government will be very cautious in the verification of the information before releasing any official reliable information.

Take-home messages from the Press Conference:

1. A number of fake and incorrect reports are circulating on the social media: DO NOT RESEND or TRANSMIT REPORT or IMAGES which appear to be untrue, that can be very damaging.
2. Rapid assessment teams are there to conduct initial assessments as quickly as possible with first responders (teams for the Ministry of Health, police department, social services, NEMA, Bahamas Red cross as well as international, regional and NGO teams that are there to help to assess human needs and damage). 
3. A hurricane relief and recovery committee has been put in place to restore normalcy to the lives. The immediate relief support in the aftermath of the hurricane is being prepared with medical supplies, electrical generators, mosquitoes netting and other priority medical materials…
4. Regional and foreign governmental and agency support the Bahamas: a number of heads of governments from the CARICOM leaders are calling in. The President of Haiti indicated that whatever Haiti can do, they will be most certainly available. The Chairman of Caricom also ensured that the CARICOM community is putting funds together, including Dominica which was severely affected by the Hurricane Maria in 2017 to assist the Bahamian population.
5. The PM indicated many difficult days weeks and months are ahead to rebuild lives to bring healing and hope to those who are traumatised by the destructive hurricane.

Other updates will follow as the all clear is given and information comes through.

Additionnal information

• The European Commission's Copernicus emergency satelite mapping service was activated on 1 September at 8.12 UTC to provide satellite maps for the Abaco Islands.

The Bahamas is an archipelago of about 700 islands, with 16 main islands (ca 350,000 inhabitants) and 684 cayes located between 50-400 miles off the Florida coastline. Grand Bahama has ca 51,000 pers, Abaco: ca 17,000 persons.