Big waves pound Bermuda

2010-09-19 17:27

Hamilton - Big waves pounded Bermuda's beaches on Sunday as islanders rushed to board up windows, fill sandbags and stock up on water, food and other supplies before Hurricane Igor's expected arrival.

In Mexico, people cleaned up damage from flooding and wind caused by Hurricane Karl, which killed at least seven people after it came ashore on Friday.

The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Hurricane Igor was expected to pass over or very close to Bermuda late on Sunday or early on Monday. Igor was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane overnight and had maximum sustained winds of 135km/h on Sunday morning.

Waves of 4m to 5m began roaring onto Bermuda's beaches on Saturday afternoon, smashing into breakwaters.

"This storm will be a long and punishing one," Public Safety Minister David Burch said. "The potential for injury and physical damage is great."

High surf kicked up by the storm have already swept two people out to sea in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, far to the south.

"It's absolutely spectacular, but it's probably going to be absolutely horrifying come the next couple of days," Peter Mills, 44, said while watching with his wife and two children as waves foamed at John Smith's Bay Park.

Forecasters said Igor could drop 15cm to 23cm of rain over Bermuda and cause significant coastal flooding.

Bermudians rushed to pull boats out of the water and buy supplies.

"We've sold out of generators, tarpaulins, buckets, rope, screws, bottled water, coolers, even trash cans and plastic sheeting," said Mark Stearns, who owns a home and garden store in the capital of Hamilton. "Anything people can use to secure their homes."

Bermuda is popular with tourists for its pink sand beaches and with businesspeople as an offshore financial haven.

- AP