Pictures show the extent of destruction in Inagua

Morton Salt buildings sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ike. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

Information filtering back from the assessment team showed some of the severe damage that occurred on the island

A Bahamas Government delegation traveled to Matthew Town, Inagua on Tuesday to view the extent to which residents suffered damages resulting from the Category 4 Hurricane Ike which struck the island on Sunday, September 7, 2008. The trip followed that of a Rapid Assessment Team of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) that was dispatched to Matthew Town earlier.

Information filtering back from the assessment team showed some of the severe damage that occurred on the island. Hit particularly hard was Morton Salt, a US Company, that is a major employer on the island. According to officials, the company was dealt a devastating blow and this is clearly visible in some of the photos below. In addition many homes can be seen with damaged or destroyed roofs and broken electrical poles are visible in the background of at least one of the photos.

An aerial view of Inagua on Tuesday, September 9 shows the varying degrees of roof damage to homes and other buildings sustained during Hurricane Ike. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

An aerial view of the Morton Salt facility in Inagua on Tuesday, September 9 shows extensive damage to the company's administration building and maintenance shop. The company's managing director described Hurricane Ike as having dealt a devastating blow to the company, which serves as the lifeblood of the island's economy. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

An aerial view of the Morton Salt dock on Tuesday, September 9 shows portions of the dock's walkway destroyed by Hurricane Ike's category 4 winds. The company's managing director indicated that the walkway separations now prevent the servicing of ships at the dock by Morton Salt. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

A classroom at the Inagua All Age School sustains water damage after one of its windows were blown out by the force of Hurricane Ike's category 4 winds. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

A home in Inagua sustained significant roof damage during Hurricane Ike. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham (centre) and Education Minister the Hon. Carl Bethel (right) are pictured among Cabinet ministers who visited one of the island's matriarchs (left) whose home sustained significant damage in Hurricane Ike. (BIS Photo/Sharon Turner)