1.
AVs Fire damage to Nassau business area
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2.
GV PAN Fir-damaged buildings
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3.
GV People searching through rubble (4 shots)
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4.
GV & SV People boarding up shop windows (2 shots)
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5.
SV PAN FROM Policemen TO wrecked building
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TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Hundreds of people have been left homeless after fire swept through the business district of Nassau in the Bahamas last Friday (28 April). Millions of dollars worth of damage was caused and the Bahamas authorities described the fire as "the worst of modern times".

SYNOPSIS: A half-mile square area of Nassau's historic Bay Street business district was devastated by the fire, which began in an empty furniture store and quickly spread to other buildings as winds whipped the flames. In all, 16 buildings in three city blocks were damaged or destroyed.

No deaths or injuries were reported, but among the destroyed property were a major bank, a restaurant, part of the Ministry of Education complex and the offices of some of the island republic's most influential business firms. Embers and sparks were carried by the wind form the north side of Bay Street to the south side, touching off blazes in other blocks.

Fire fighters were hampered by the lack of water pressure in city's mains and were forced to draw sea water from the harbour t battle the flames. Firemen were unable to bring the inferno under control until after dawn. The fire continued to burn long after it was contained.