The category four cyclone caused severe damages to critical infrastructure, homes, schools and government buildings.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham described the aftermath of the storm on Sundays as devastating, but said the situation could have been much worse considering that Ike was packing winds up to 135 miles per hour and storm surges of up to 18 feet when the storm unleashed its wrath on islands in the southeastern Bahamas.

Nowhere was Ike?s fury felt more though than in Inagua.

Interim director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Stephen Russell said Ike left behind major destruction in Inagua.

"The situation is dire in Inagua," he said. "There is widespread destruction."

Prime Minister Ingraham emphasized that buildings and infrastructure can be replaced, but human life cannot and therefore there was much to be thankful for since no loss of life or serious injury had been reported.

The prime minister said he would travel to Inagua to view and assess the devastation first-hand, but that he had not yet set a date.

Tellis Symonette, vice president of wireless and internet service at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, said BTC ?s office in Matthew Town, Inagua, suffered extensive damages.

He said the strong winds and torrential rains tore down a satellite communications system, which subsequently left a gaping hole in the roof.

Mr. Symonette said water rained down on the equipment in the building, causing severe damages.

However, he said the TDMA and GSM systems were up and running.

"But we don?t know how long that will last because the equipment is still exposed," Mr. Symonette said.

Kevin Basden, general manager of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, said there were many poles, utility lines and transformers that were leveled.

"BEC will conduct a full assessment of the situation Monday morning," he said. "We will also deploy technicians and linesmen from Nassau to assist their colleagues in Inagua with the restoration of power."

Up to Sunday evening Inagua had been without electricity.

Mr. Basden also reported that land and power lines were down in Mayaguana and Acklins

Defence Force commodore Clifford Scavella said there was minimum damage to the Defence Force base in Inagua.

"A portion of the roof was destroyed," he said. "And there were other minor damages. But the officers stationed in Inagua are ready to lend assistance and as soon as NEMA gives the order they are prepared to take action."

Shanandor Evans, acting assistant commissioner of police, reported that the shutters on the police station and the police residences were blown away, resulting in massive flooding.

But he said that the damage did not hamper the officers? ability to respond to any emergency.

Melanie Zonicle, director of the Department of Social Services, said the shutters were also blown off the shelter at St. Philips Community Center and at Zion Baptist Church, which also resulted in flooding.

She also said the roof on the church caved in. Evacuees housed in another section of the church were forced to move to the main section of the church.

Glenn Bannister, manager director of Morton Salt Bahamas, said on Sunday that Inagua was feeling the full brunt of the storm when he spoke to the Bahama Journal yesterday.

Many people, he said, were staying in shelters and could only watch as Ike tore off some roofs, leveled power lines and destroyed boats, including some fishing vessels.

Mr. Bannister said some shelters were also damaged. The roof of at least one shelter started to give way he said and people started to crowd one area to avoid being injured.

"It looks like we have been hit hard," Mr. Bannister said. "From what I can see there is quite a bit of damage."

Mr. Bannister said the total impact of the storm could not be determined until the storm had passed, but from what he had seen so far there was extensive damage.

Prime Minister Ingraham said teams from the various government agencies would be dispatched to Inagua and some of the other affected islands in the southeastern Bahamas as early as Monday to conduct assessment.

The prime minister said a main focus of the government is to get children back to school.

As a result he said schools would be among the first to be assessed by the Ministry of Works.

Mr. Ingraham said he has confidence in the relevant government agencies and believes that Inagua and the other affected island would be restored in a reasonable time.

By NAVARDO SAUNDERS