Imelda Hits Bermuda, Causes Widespread Damage

Hurricane Imelda passed extremely close to or over Bermuda late Wednesday into Thursday, lashing the island with destructive winds, heavy rain, storm surge and large waves but, so far, no reported injuries. The storm rapidly intensified to Category 2 near Bermuda before weakening to Category 1 and transitioning to a post‑tropical/extratropical system as it moved east‑northeast, though agencies warned it would remain large and continue to generate dangerous swells. Impacts on Bermuda included downed trees and power lines and widespread outages — reports range from hundreds to more than 17,000 customers without power — prompting deployment of BELCO crews, the Royal Bermuda Regiment and about 100 soldiers and closures of schools, government offices and the airport. Assessment and restoration teams are moving across the island while officials urge residents to stay sheltered and off roads as lingering tropical‑storm conditions, additional showers and localized storm‑surge flooding are expected to subside later in the day. Imelda earlier caused deadly flooding in eastern Cuba and damage in Haiti, and its swells together with remnants of Hurricane Humberto will continue to produce life‑threatening surf and rip currents for the Bahamas, the U.S. East Coast, the Greater Antilles and parts of the Caribbean into the weekend.