Hurricane Ernesto caused significant disruption in Bermuda, knocking out power, downing trees, and flooding parts of the island. Despite these challenges, officials reported no major injuries or property damage after an initial assessment. The Category 1 storm brought strong winds and 35-foot seas, resulting in a power outage for 71% of the island’s 36,000 customers. Risk management official Lyndon Raynor noted that most of the emergency calls were related to flooding rather than severe damage.
The storm dumped about 5.9 inches of rain on Bermuda, with more expected as it moved away. The U.S. National Weather Service reported that Ernesto was tracking north-northeast, passing about 85 miles from Bermuda and expected to approach southeastern Newfoundland in Canada by late Monday. The storm’s maximum sustained winds were 75 mph, predicted to weaken after 48 hours.
Read more: Tokyo Evacuates and Cancels Fights Ahead of Typhoon Ampil
Bermuda experienced a brief respite when the eye of the storm passed over early Saturday, but heavy rain and wind soon resumed. Meteorologist Michelle Pitcher indicated that the worst of the storm would likely subside by late Saturday, bringing some relief to the island’s residents. National Security Minister Michael Weeks echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that the end of the storm was near.
The storm caused widespread power outages across the island, with BELCO, the local utility company, reporting that 25,800 customers were still without electricity as of Saturday afternoon. However, the overall impact of Hurricane Ernesto was less severe than initially feared.
