A woman takes a picture as the effects of Hurricane “Dorian” begin to be felt on 2 September in Cocoa Beach, Florida. “Dorian,” once expected to make landfall near Cocoa Beach as a category 4 storm, is currently predicted to turn north and stay off the Florida coast, lessening the impact on the area. AFP

PORT SAINT LUCIE, United States (AFP) — Monster storm “Dorian” hovered over the Bahamas Monday as surging seawaters and ferocious winds sowed chaos in low-lying island communities, killing at least five people and spurring mass evacuations on the US east coast.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis termed the hurricane a “historic tragedy” for the archipelago.

“Thus far, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has confirmed that there are five deaths in Abaco,” Minnis told a news conference, referring to the islands where “Dorian” made landfall as a Category 5 storm on Sunday.

As “Dorian” ground to a standstill, pounding Grand Bahama further to the west of the island chain, the Bahamas tourism and aviation ministry announced the start of rescue operations “in parts where it is safe.”

US forecasters said the storm would keep hammering the Bahamas overnight into Tuesday.

For many, the wait for help to arrive has been terrifying.

A text message seen by AFP from a woman named Kendra Williams, who lives on Grand Bahama said: “We are under water; we are up in the ceiling. Can someone please assist us or send some help? Please. Me and my six grandchildren and my son, we are in the ceiling.”

Abaco resident Ramond King captured scenes of devastation in footage provided to AFP, showing flooded streets strewn with trees and downed power lines and at least one home washed clearly away.

“Look at this,” he can be heard saying. “We need help, everything down. Everything down. Look at my roof off, my house. I still got life. Thank God for life. I can rebuild.”

“The tornado came from around this side… My neighbor used to live there. His house ain’t even there.”

“Dorian” weakened slightly Monday to a still-dangerous Category 4 storm, punishing Grand Bahama with “devastating winds and storm surge,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin.

At 0300 GMT Tuesday, the hurricane was stationary, the NHC said, whipping the Caribbean island with torrential rains and winds of 130 miles (210 kilometers) per hour, with higher gusts.

The storm is forecast to resume moving westward overnight.

“Although gradual weakening is forecast, “Dorian” is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days,” the NHC said.

Fear gripped residents of Freeport, as winds tore off shutters and water began coming into homes, said Yasmin Rigby, reached by text in the Grand Bahama island’s main city.

“People who thought they were safe are now calling for help,” Rigby said. “My best friend’s husband is stuck in the roof of their house with seven feet (two meters) water below.”