MIAMI: Hurricane Ernesto lashed Bermuda with heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday, leaving much of the British Atlantic Ocean territory without power, with meteorologists warning of a dangerous storm surge and floods.

The hurricane, which hit Puerto Rico earlier this week, made landfall at 5:30am local time packing maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, according to the US-based National Hurricane Centre.

“A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding on Bermuda in areas of onshore winds. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” the NHC warned. Ernesto was expected to dump six to nine inches (150 to 225 millimetres) of rain on Bermuda.

“This rainfall will likely result in considerable life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas on the island,” the NHC said.

The storm had left more than 26,000 customers without electricity, Bermuda’s power firm Belco reported, or more than 70 per cent of its customers on the island with a population of 64,000.

As of 11:30am local time, the island was in the eye of the storm, with the hurricane’s southern eyewall due to hit, according to the Bermuda Weather Service. Images on social media showed downed trees blocking roads, power lines damaged by the storm’s high winds, and flooded roads.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024