Island braces for landfall of Hurricane Florence

FLORENCE intensified into the second hurricane of the Atlantic season yesterday as it headed for Bermuda, where residents installed storm shutters and hauled their yachts onto beaches.

Florence is expected to reach the tiny British territory today, according to the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. But it was too early to tell whether it will make a direct hit.

The Category 1 hurricane, which had had maximum sustained winds near 80mph yesterday, was expected to become a Category 2 hurricane as it passes Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Centre.