“Ernesto” causes serious damage in Puerto Rico

TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP/EFE).— Hurricane Ernesto dumped heavy rains on Puerto Rico yesterday and left half of the island’s customers without electricity, as it threatens to become a Category 3 storm or higher on its way to Bermuda.

The storm was located in open sea about 1,160 kilometers south-southwest of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and northwest direction at 26 kph.

A hurricane warning has been issued for Bermuda.

Tropical storm warnings have been suspended for Puerto Rico and its outer islands of Vieques and Culebra, as well as for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

“I know it was a long night listening to that wind howl,” U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said at a news conference.

A power outage was reported across the island of St. Croix, and at least six cellphone towers were out of service across the U.S. territory, said Daryl Jaschen, director of emergency management.

He also said airports in St. Croix and St. Thomas were expected to reopen at noon.

Schools and public facilities remained closed in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where flooding was reported in several areas, forcing authorities to close roads, some of which were covered with fallen trees.

More than 140 flights to and from Puerto Rico were cancelled.

Flash flood warnings remained in effect yesterday afternoon.

In the coastal town of Toa Baja in the north of the island, dozens of residents moved their cars to higher ground.

Ernesto is forecast to become a Category 3 or higher hurricane and its center will pass near Bermuda on Saturday.

The rains and strong gusts of wind had their effect on Puerto Rico’s weak electrical grid. A total of 734,645 users, or 50.04%, were without power since 5 p.m., according to data from the company LUMA Energy.

At a glance

Overflow

In Puerto Rico, all rivers were near or above flood level, according to the National Weather Service.

Evictions

In the northern city of Toa Baja, at the mouth of the La Plata River, authorities evacuated several families because the water reached their homes.

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