NASSAU, The Bahamas, CMC:
HURRICANE JEANNE, a dangerous category three storm, battered the Bahamas on Saturday, causing severe flooding and damage to buildings and utility poles in some areas. "We received reports early this morning that central Abaco was experiencing serious flooding and there was some four feet of water from storm surge," National Disaster Co-ordinator Carl Smith said. "There are communities in the Marsh Harbour area that were under some five feet of water and so we have some concerns there."
Smith said the roofs of some Government buildings and private homes were destroyed and fallen trees and utility poles have forced officials to communicate by satellite phone.
The hurricane was expected to affect Grand Bahama yesterday evening.
Residents have evacuated low-lying areas and up to 1,500 persons have sought refuge in hurricane shelters.
Hurricane Jeanne was located near latitude 26.8 north, longitude 77.9 west, or about 35 miles northeast of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.
Jeanne is moving a little north of due west near 14 miles per hour, packing winds of 115 miles per hour and some additional strengthening is possible.
On this track the core of Jeanne will continue near or over the remainder of the northwestern Bahamas today and approach the southeastern coast of Florida tonight or early Sunday, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in its latest bulletin.
