Hurricane Dorian: Social media users slammed for insensitive bikini-clad 'pray for Bahamas' messages
Hurricane Dorian has finally started to inch away from the Bahamas after causing devastating damage and destruction. It had smashed into the Abaco Islands when it was a category 5 storm and lasted around 40 hours ruining almost everything that came along its path.
Many social media users took to various sites to post about the terrifying storm, but few attention-hungry users failed to understand the gravity of the situation as they shared what seems to be 'tone-deaf' messages in the wake of the hurricane which has already claimed the lives of seven people.
Some Instagram users have decided to express their condolences to the victims alongside pictures of themselves standing in a sunny Bahamas while sporting beachwear and bikinis. Model Tatiele Polyana had geotagged 'The Bahamas' and posted a picture of herself on a bright beach, standing ankle-deep in crystal clear water with the sun shining brightly. She had captioned the picture, "My heart is in (two). A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to know this immensity of clear water, truly a paradise, how sad, my God, to see the desperation of the people in the videos, so many houses, cars, hospitals, and places all being devastated by this damn hurricane!" along with the hashtag 'Let's pray for #Bahamas'.
Many users commented on her picture saying that she was using the country's misfortune to promote herself. One user shared, "This is a very odd photo to choose to show your concern for The Bahamas. It honestly seems more like you're using the hashtag for a tragedy as self-promotion." While another added that the picture did not show that she was praying for the Bahamas at all.
Several other Instagram users such as Gleicy Santos also shared throwback pictures of themselves enjoying a vacation in the Bahamas and were also called out. Hashtags such as 'PrayForBahamas' or 'Hurricane Dorian' have been used with many of these posts.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hubert Minnis has shared that the island nation is in the midst of a "historic tragedy". "The devastation is unprecedented and extensive," he said.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Dorian had started to move west-northwest. They added that the storm track would lead it "dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday."