Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Thursday night praised the U.S. for "assisting us with all of our needs" after the islands were struck by Hurricane Dorian.

Minnis said U.S. aid has likely helped to lower the storm's death toll.

ADVERTISEMENT

"From day one, the United States was in our territory assisting us with all of our needs. Had it not been for the United States we would not have been advanced this far in the entire process," Minnis said in a CNN interview.

"Even though our death numbers, we expect they [will] increase, had the United States not come in quickly ... our death numbers would be even more," he added.

Minnis also described a phone call with President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE in the interview.

"He expressed condolence to the entire Bahamian populace and that the United States would be available and would be there to assist us," the prime minister said.

"Even though our death numbers, we expect they [will] increase, had the United States not come in quickly... our death numbers would be even more."



Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis says President Trump promised support during their phone call.https://t.co/NNmtFDsMxp pic.twitter.com/O82Ijp6DPn — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 5, 2019

The death toll in the Bahamas had reportedly reached 30 as of Thursday night.

The U.S. Agency for International Development said this week that it had deployed a disaster response team to the Bahamas that worked with local authorities, humanitarian organizations and others to give assistance to those impacted by the storm.

Trump also tweeted that the U.S. was "sending crews" to help the Bahamas after it was hit by Dorian.