Bahamas death toll from Hurricane Dorian rises

The official death toll in the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian has risen to 20, according to Wednesday reports, and is expected to climb further.

Dorian, the strongest hurricane ever to hit the Bahamas, devastated the archipelago nation. Winds up to 185 mph and torrential rains destroyed or severely damaged nearly half the homes of the 70,000 residents in Abaco and Grand Bahama, The Associated Press reported.

Bahamian Health Minister Duane Sands told the AP that 17 of the deaths are from Abaco and three are from Grand Bahama.