Ernesto intensifies into a hurricane and is on a path towards Bermuda

Tourists sit on La Pared beach as Tropical Storm Ernesto passes by Luquillo, Puerto Rico (Alejandro Granadillo/AP)

Ernesto has strengthened into a hurricane as it dropped torrential rain on Puerto Rico and threatened to strengthen into a major storm en route to Bermuda.

The storm was located about 175 miles north west of San Juan, Puerto Rico and was moving over open waters. It had maximum sustained winds of 75mph and was moving north west at 16mph.