Hundreds seek shelter as Bahamas braces for hurricane

Hundreds of people fled their homes and took refuge in shelters set up in schools and churches today as Hurricane Jeanne bore down on the Bahamas with 100mph winds and torrential rains, threatening more destruction to an island chain still recovering from Hurricane Frances.

About 700 evacuees crowded into a school in the town of Marsh Harbour as Jeanne’s outer winds and heavy rains began to lick Abaco island last night.