MIAMI: Hurricane Ernesto hit Bermuda with heavy rains and fierce winds on Saturday, leaving large parts of the British Atlantic territory without power. Meteorologists are warning of dangerous storm surge and flooding.
The hurricane that hit Puerto Rico earlier this week made landfall at 5:30 a.m. local time with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
“A dangerous storm surge is expected to cause significant flooding along the coast of Bermuda in areas with offshore winds. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” the NHC warned. Ernesto is expected to dump 150 to 225 millimeters of rain on Bermuda.
“This rainfall is likely to cause significant, life-threatening flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas of the island,” the NHC said.
The storm left more than 26,000 households without power, reported Bermuda energy company Belco. That’s more than 70 percent of customers on the island of 64,000 inhabitants.
As of 11:30 a.m. local time, the island was in the eye of the storm, and the hurricane’s southern eyewall was expected to make landfall, according to the Bermuda Weather Service. Images on social media showed fallen trees blocking roads, power lines damaged by the storm’s strong winds, and flooded streets.
Published in Dawn, August 18, 2024
