Bahamas

Tropical Depression Nine strengthened into Tropical Storm Humberto on Friday night.

It is currently moving northwest towards Great Abaco island, one of the islands worst hit by Dorian.

About 1,300 people are missing in the Bahamas following the hurricane, while at least 15,000 are in need of shelter, food and medical care.

Humberto is due to cause strong winds and heavy rains on the islands, with some areas potentially seeing 15 cm (six inches) of rain and wind speeds of 45 km/h (30 mph).

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said some areas had been "decimated" and expected the current death toll of seven would rise.

The hurricane winds that hit the Abaco Islands equalled the highest ever recorded at landfall, and Grand Bahama also suffered severe damage and floods.

Mr Minnis said the Bahamas was facing "one of the greatest national crises in our country's history".

Lia Head-Rigby, who runs a relief group and overflew the Abacos, said her representatives had told her there were "a lot more dead".

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said the deaths were confirmed at the north-eastern Abaco Islands, which bore the brunt of the storm.

Some 13,000 houses are feared damaged or destroyed, according to the International Red Cross.

Dorian, the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, remains "extremely dangerous", Mr Minnis said.

Pictures showed surging floodwaters, upturned cars and snapped trees.

Eyewitness videos and reports paint a picture of massive and widespread flooding, with panicked families fleeing to their roofs to escape rising floodwaters.

The "extremely dangerous" storm is the strongest hurricane on modern record in the area, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

Grand Bahama residents have been evacuating from its predicted path.

A storm surge could be life-threatening and as high as 23ft (7m) in places, officials warn.

The storm made landfall at 12:40 (16:40 GMT) on Elbow Cay in the Abaco islands, northern Bahamas, the NHC said.

Local residents posted footage showing floodwaters engulfing some homes, their rooftops blown off.

The Coast Guard had been searching for an airplane with four Americans aboard that was reported missing Monday.

On board were Jennifer Blumin, 40, from New York City, Nathan Ulrich, 52, from Lee, New Hampshire; and Blumin's 3-year-old and 4-year-old sons.

The wreckage "appears to be airplane debris," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Woodall, spokesperson for the US Coast Guard District 7.

It was spotted about 15 miles east of Eleuthera, Bahamas, by a helicopter crew. A rescue swimmer retrieved some materials to take ashore for identification.

Rushing to finish last-minute preparations as the storm bore down, residents of the mid-Atlantic British dependency secured patio furniture and stocked up on gas and batteries as the hurricane's outer bands whipped the mid-Atlantic British territory. 

All flights to L.F. Wade International Airport were cancelled and ferry service was closed due to rough seas. Emergency service agencies were placed on alert.

The two countries have been in contact with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) about the prospect of bringing the event to their respective countries, with both now set to hold Governmental talks to decide whether to officially enter the race.

Countries have until the end of September to express an interest before formal candidacies must be declared by the end of October.

insidethegames also understands the Canadian city being proposed as their candidate is Edmonton, who withdrew from the race for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, eventually awarded to sole bidder Durban.

On Friday, the 43-year-old actress was spotted without hers while out and about with their daughter Seraphina, 6, in Santa Monica, California. Garner, whose family is followed by paparazzi constantly, had until been photographed with her ring most of the time.

Affleck, 43, has been less consistent. He was most recently seen without his wedding ring, on Friday, while out and about in Brentwood, near Los Angeles (pictured below).

What began as a teenage summer adventure — a chaperone-free getaway on the high seas — took an ominous turn after the 19-foot boat that carried Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos was found capsized and days of searches proved fruitless. 

But authorities and the boys' families held out hope, saying the teens were consummate seamen and a rescue is still possible.