Thousands in Bermuda without power

Thousands of Bermudians were still without power today in the wake of Hurricane Florence, which knocked down utility poles and damaged roofs but caused far less damage than feared.

The storm, which caused no major injuries, damaged about 10 homes and garages in the wealthy British island territory before it headed north over the open Atlantic Ocean, said Deputy Governor Nick Carter.

“It’s too early to estimate insured losses on the storm but I would guess it’s pretty light,” Carter said. “The major issue was the downing of the power cables.”

At one point during the storm, the power was out to more than half the small island chain, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and enforces strict building codes to ensure that homes can withstand intense weather.

Authorities were still assessing the damage, but Carter said about several thousand homes and businesses were still without power early Tuesday as crews worked to restore service, Carter said. A few people were hurt by broken glass but none required hospitalisation, he said.

The government, which discontinued its tropical storm warning late Monday, planned to reopen the territory’s airport and to resume bus and ferry service.

Strong winds, rains and white-capped waves started hammering the island on Sunday, when Bermuda, home to about 60,000, began to feel the effects of Florence, the second hurricane of the Atlantic season.

After Florence moved away from Bermuda Monday night, the cyclone headed toward Atlantic shipping lanes and was expected to weaken further as it passes over cooler waters, moving close to or over Newfoundland later in the week before swerving into the ocean.

At 11am, Florence had top sustained winds of 75mph and was centred about 715 miles south-west of Cape Race, Newfoundland, the National Hurricane Centre said.

The hurricane was moving north-east at 23mph.

If the Florence stays on its forecast track, it would pass just south-east of Newfoundland during the next day or so, the hurricane centre said. Residents of extreme eastern Canada were advised to be aware of any watches or warnings associated with Florence.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gordon, the seventh named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, formed in the ocean north-east of the Leeward Islands and spun over open waters. Late this morning, forecasters said Gordon, which could become a hurricane as early as tomorrow, was expected to remain over open water away from Bermuda.