“Ernesto” strengthens: it could become a hurricane north of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN (EFE).— Tropical storm Ernesto yesterday lashed several islands in the eastern Caribbean with heavy rains and strengthened on its way to Puerto Rico, where widespread power outages are expected and shelters have been set up for the population.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi explained at the last press conference of the day that “the impact on winds will be at midnight and will continue to be felt tomorrow (today).”

He also warned that maritime conditions are very bad and that heavy rain is expected for most of the day.

Surveillance

“Ernesto” has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour and could become a hurricane as it moves north of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to the bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC has issued a hurricane watch for the Virgin Islands and the Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra, while Puerto Rico is under a tropical storm warning.

In Puerto Rico, Ernesto is expected to cause flooding both on the coast, with breaking waves of up to 5 meters, and inland, with between 15 and 25 centimeters of rain expected.

Canceled flights

Puerto Rican authorities have suspended maritime transport to Vieques and Culebra until further notice, while closing the island’s seaports.

At least 18 flights were cancelled yesterday at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, by airlines such as Cape Air, Silver Airways, Intercaribbean and Iberia.

In addition, public schools, universities, courts and other government offices, except for essential ones, remain closed since yesterday and until today.

Many shopping malls also closed earlier than usual yesterday, so many Puerto Ricans waited in long lines to stock up on food and at gas stations to fill up their fuel tanks.

To protect their homes, many residents placed storm shutters on their windows and collected their belongings from outside.

At a glance

Combustible

In response to complaints from citizens about the lack of fuel, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) assured that there is enough supply on the island of both gasoline and diesel for at least 37 days.

Hostels

According to the governor of Puerto Rico, as of yesterday there were 42 people sheltering in shelters set up across the island in municipalities such as San Juan, Mayagüez, Yauco, Bayamón, Carolina, San Germán, Barceloneta, Hatillo, Caguas, Ponce and Vieques.

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