Hurricane Ernesto dumps heavy rains on Puerto Rico

Puerto RicoHurricane Ernesto dumped heavy rains on Puerto Rico on Wednesday, knocking out power to nearly half of the island’s customers as it threatened to strengthen into a Category 3 or stronger storm on its way to Bermuda.

The meteor 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 km/h.

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 across the U.S. territory, said Daryl Jaschen, director of emergency management. He said airports on St. Croix and St. Thomas were expected to reopen by midday.

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 canceled.

““A lot of rain, a lot of rain,” said Edilberto Romero, mayor of Culebra, in a telephone interview. “We have trees that have fallen on public roads. There are some roofs that have disappeared.”

Flash flood warnings remained in effect Wednesday afternoon due to persistent rainfall.

In the coastal town of Toa Baja, located 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.

““Residents need to prepare now before conditions worsen,” said Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, Michael Weeks. “This is not the time to be complacent.”

Forecasters also warned of strong waves along the US East Coast.