MORE volunteers from Chilmark-based disaster response charity Team Rubicon UK have arrived in the Bahamas after a devastating hurricane.

And the charity urgently needs to raise £250,000 to fund the initial six-week mission to deliver immediate aid to those in the greatest need.

Paul Taylor, Team Rubicon UK response manager, said: “It is likely that the human toll of this disaster currently standing at 43 lives lost will increase exponentially over the coming days unless we can get aid to them fast.”

On Sunday, September 1 Hurricane Dorian hit Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas as a category 5 hurricane.

Winds of 295 km/h were recorded, the strongest on record.

The charity says large parts of the islands have been wiped out with widespread devastation. Thousands of houses have been levelled, telecommunications towers are down, and water wells and roads have been damaged.

It also says there is very limited or no water, electricity and sanitation.

Team Rubicon UK has deployed two response teams, one to Grand Bahama and one to Abaco, with two liaison officers in Nassau to co-ordinate the distribution of aid.

Each response team, comprising skilled veterans, medics and skilled civilians, will set up "self-sufficient logistics hubs" and help distribute aid as well as address primary needs of shelter, food, clean water and medical kits to the estimated 76,000 people in need.

Team Rubicon UK receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of individuals, Trusts and foundations and corporate support.

To donate go to teamrubiconuk.org