The most powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years slammed into the British territory, unleashing deadly winds that split trees in half and swept trucks off roads. Four people were missing.
By nightfall on Friday, the hurricane’s 193kph winds had eased as Fabian pushed away from Bermuda. Officials were grappling with reports of widespread damage and injuries. At least four islanders were feared dead, according to Bermuda police commissioner Jonathan Smith.
Two police officers and two civilians were swept into white-capped waters when winds blew their vehicles off a shattered causeway connecting Bermuda’s main island to the airport. Searches were suspended because of the storm surge but would resume on Saturday.
Hospitals reported minor injuries. Many people said they had been hit by flying debris. Some reported falling on slippery roads.
The storm knocked out power in 25 000 homes, tore slate tiles from roofs, covered roads with debris and made the airport causeway impassable. Many of the vacation spot’s golf courses were in ruins.
”This storm is the most powerful one we’ve seen in years,” said John Burchall, the Bermuda government’s spokesperson. ”The surge and debris are making it incredibly difficult to do search and rescue operations.”
Fabian tested the wealthy British territory’s vaunted ability to withstand a fierce storm. The island chain requires newly built houses to withstand sustained winds of 177kph. The developed territory also has many underground power and phone lines.
But Bermuda had not seen a category three hurricane like Fabian since 1953 when Hurricane Edna slammed into Bermuda with its 185kph winds.
”My neighbour is using a mop to hold up her kitchen ceiling,” said Honey Adams, a government official whose neighbour lost part of her roof. ”The [St. George’s] golf course is a disaster area.”
The satellite dish and instruments to measure wind speeds were ripped from their moorings and blown away from Bermuda’s Weather Service. By late Friday, maximum sustained winds were at 185kph.
”It’s terrific to watch but it’s still intimidating,” said Susan Chandler (52) from Manhattan, who watched Fabian from her rattling hotel windows. ”There’s so much sea-spray … it looks like it’s snowing.”
Islanders bolted themselves inside homes or fled to hotels, some of which reported gushing leaks. Airports closed and all flights to Bermuda were canceled. It was unclear when the airport would reopen because part of the wall on the causeway going to the airport had been washed away.
About 160 people were moved out of the Sonesta Beach hotel in the south, where 3m-high waves were crashing against the rocky coastline. Hundreds of others left their homes on the coast.
Tourist Robert O’Leary (59) of Centerville, Nova Scotia, was in Bermuda visiting his pregnant daughter who was a week late delivering.
”We’ll call the baby Fabian, I guess,” said O’Leary, who nervously passed the time sipping Goslings, Bermuda rum.
By Friday afternoon, Fabian’s eye had passed within 55km west of Bermuda’s largest island, which is 34km long and 3km wide.
Weather was improving but storm surges were still strong. Surges would ease by Saturday, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said. The Bermuda Weather Service discontinued the hurricane warning but urged citizens to exercise caution until winds and seas subsided.
”We’ve come up with a Fabian cocktail for our guests,” said Paul S Tormey, manager of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel, which had nearly 300 guests. ”The drinks will have umbrellas turned inside out.”
About 62 000 people live in the British territory 1 300km southeast of New York. — Sapa-AP