As Hurricane Ernesto roars toward Bermuda, the Caribbean island is bracing for impact after the storm has already wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico, leaving hundreds of thousands without power or water amid an oppressive heatwave. A hurricane warning is now in effect for Bermuda, with Ernesto projected to reach the island on Saturday as a formidable Category 3 hurricane, threatening to deliver torrential rains and high winds.
Currently positioned about 605 miles (975 km) south-southwest of Bermuda, Ernesto has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and is moving north at a pace of 13 mph. National Security Minister Michael Weeks has issued an urgent call to action for residents, emphasizing the dire need for preparedness. “I cannot stress enough how important it is for every resident to use this time to prepare. We have seen in the past the devastating effects of complacency,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
With forecasts predicting that Ernesto will intensify into a major hurricane before its arrival, Bermuda could face significant rainfall ranging from 4 to 8 inches, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 12 inches. “All of the guidance shows this system as a large hurricane near Bermuda,” warned the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Residents are urged to take proactive measures to safeguard their homes and families as the storm approaches.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is reeling from the storm’s initial assault. After passing over the island as a tropical storm late Tuesday, Ernesto has left over 450,000 customers without power, and many are questioning how such extensive outages could occur from a storm that was merely a tropical system at the time. “I haven’t slept at all,” lamented Ramón Mercedes Paredes, a construction worker who plans to sleep outdoors to escape the sweltering heat. “I haven’t even been able to take a shower.”
The situation has led many residents to seek refuge in public parks, like Alexander Reyna, a 32-year-old construction worker, who lamented the lack of a cooling breeze. With no access to water or electricity, he remarked, “I have to come here because I cannot stand to be at home.” This widespread crisis is exacerbated by memories of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, claiming nearly 3,000 lives and obliterating the island’s power grid—an infrastructure that is still in the process of being rebuilt.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, warning of “dangerously hot and humid conditions” that threaten the health of residents, particularly those without access to generators or adequate cooling solutions. Faustino Peguero, a concerned husband whose wife suffers from multiple health conditions, expressed his fears about the current situation. With limited fuel for his small generator, he lamented, “It’s chaos.”
As concerns mount over the prolonged power outages and the overall health and safety of Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million residents—many of whom live below the poverty line—officials have been unable to provide a timeline for when power will be fully restored. The mounting stress and anxiety in the face of Hurricane Ernesto’s fury serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by communities in the Caribbean as they confront the dual threats of severe weather and systemic infrastructure challenges.
Source:
www.theguardian.com
