Hurricane Andrew, Captain Taylor, defence adviser to the British High Commissioner in Nassau, said on Tuesday.

"We have no specific reports of any deaths in the North Eleuthera area caused by the hurricane,'' said Capt. Taylor. "There have been reports of some deaths by natural causes, but I can say there are no confirmed reports of any deaths caused by the hurricane in the north Eleuthera area.'' A Tribune team that flew into the Bogue and Bluff areas yesterday have confirmed three deaths -- Telford Neely, 16, and a Ms Pedican, both of the Bluff, and Mrs. Yvonne Cash, mother of seven children, of Lower Bogue.

A team of medical workers are ashore working hand-in-hand with the local medical staff "and casualties, which I believe don't number more than 10, are being looked at and looked after,'' Capt. Taylor said.

A massive relief effort is underway to take food, medicine, building material and other emergency relief to Eleutherans. More than 24 engineers will be used in this effort.

Significant damage was inflicted on Harbour Island. Every building on Harbour Island has been damaged and the power generation system is ruined. The majority of the houses at Harbour Island are constructed of wood.

Two British naval ships, the destroyer HMS Cardiff and its support vessel Royal Fleet Auxiliary Orangeleaf , are assisting the Defence Force and other agencies in bringing relief to islands devastated by Andrew.

British High Commissioner Mr. Michael Gore was pleased with the response of the Bahamas Government and its agencies to the destruction wrought by Andrew.

Mr. Gore said that cooperation is continuing at a very good level.

Harbour Island, James Cistern, Lower Bogue, Alice Town, Governor's Harbour and Gregory Town, Eleuthera, have all been hit by Andrew with varying degrees of damage.

A Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft was scheduled to go to Eleuthera on Tuesday afternoon taking various relief equipment, roofing materials and blankets, among with other materials.

Mr Gore said that the Disaster Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Overseas Development Association in London will dispatch emergency supplies, especially food and blankets.

Unconfirmed reports place the death toll as high as 17 in Harbour Island. Mr.

Taylor said his information was that there were unconfirmed reports of casualties.

"But the only reports that our people have heard are reports which have come through local radio broadcasts, nothing else,'' said Mr. Taylor.

A team of specialist technicians will touch down in Eleuthera on Tuesday afternoon to work with a team of engineers already on the island.

A coordination centre has been set up in conjunction with the Commissioner on Harbour Island and the police authorities on board HMS Cardiff. Cardiff has received a flood of requests from residents at Eleuthera to help in any way possible.

"My message to those people is absolutely marvellous and please would they continue this, because they are doing an absolutely marvellous job,'' said Captain Taylor. "Would they please coordinate their efforts with HMS Cardiff and contact them on the maritime VHF channel 165 or aeronautical VHF frequency 121.5 megahertz.'' Captain Taylor said there is "significant damage to Harbour Island where my reports tell me that every building has suffered damage, the power generation station is ruined and the water system which was badly damaged has been reinstated in part and water isn't really a problem.'' My Taylor said that his information was that VHF communications with north Eleuthera will be established today to enable direct reports from the commissioner and the Police.

"At the moment everything is coming through HMS Cardiff ,'' said Mr. Taylor.

In Spanish Wells, said Mr, Taylor, his reports are that 300 or 500 people are homeless. On Monday night a shelter was established at a church at Harbour Island. Efforts will continue to provide temporary housing at Spanish Wells, he said. There is enough water for the population at Spanish Wells.

A helicopter flew water into some of the outlying islands like Gregory and Alice Towns.

NORTHERN Eleuthera, which was first settled by Bermudians, was the worst hit part of the Bahamas. Up to 500 people are homeless in Spanish Wells, top left, and almost all the houses in Harbour Island, right, were destroyed.