Thousands Without Power In Puerto Rico As Hurricane Erin Pummels Region

Nearly 155,000 inferior customers are without powerfulness successful Puerto Rico arsenic Category 3 Hurricane Erin batters nan Caribbean, bringing dense rainfall and gusty winds to Puerto Rico and nan Virgin Islands.

“The adverse upwind has caused aggregate interruptions crossed nan island,” Luma Energy, a powerfulness institution successful Puerto Rico, said connected X. “Our teams proceed to activity to reside each business arsenic quickly and safely arsenic possible.”

Meanwhile, 2 divers who were swept distant by vulnerable surf adjacent St. Croix successful nan U.S. Virgin Islands had to beryllium rescued by section crews connected Sunday, according to nan U.S. Coast Guard.

Video of nan rescue by St. Croix Rescue Chief Jason Henry showed nan divers being pulled onto a boat.

And connected nan land of Sint Maarten, video showed thenar trees swaying successful beardown winds Saturday.

Erin has been fluctuating successful strength complete nan past respective days, and nan now-Category 3 large wind is expected to fortify yet again.

As of 2 p.m. Sunday, Erin was 235 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, pinch maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. It is moving west-northwest astatine astir 13 mph.

Outer bands proceed to expanse complete Puerto Rico and nan Virgin Islands, bringing dense rainfall and gusty winds. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, pinch up to 6 inches apt successful immoderate areas, will beryllium imaginable and could lead to flash flooding aliases mudslides.

At a news briefing Sunday morning, Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón advised residents to enactment location if possible. While location are nary reports of flooding connected nan land truthful far, nan worst upwind is expected to effect nan region wrong nan adjacent six hours, officials said astatine nan briefing.

Video circulating connected X showed dense rainfall falling successful Cidra successful cardinal Puerto Rico connected Sunday. Other videos posted to societal media showed trees swaying successful nan upwind and large wind waves connected nan island.

González-Colón said location were presently nary residents successful shelters and nary reports of flooding truthful far, but flash flooding remains a concern.

The hurricane is forecast to fortify successful nan adjacent 2 days earlier taking a northerly move connected Monday and Tuesday. Its halfway is expected to walk by nan eastbound of Turks and Caicos and nan southeastern Bahamas connected Sunday nighttime and Monday, according to nan National Hurricane Center. The large wind is past forecast to gradually weaken done nan mediate and second half of nan workweek arsenic it passes betwixt nan U.S. and Bermuda.

These are nan latest fluctuations successful an already volatile storm. Erin quickly exploded from a Category 2 large wind connected Friday to a monolithic Category 5 overnight, earlier weakening gradually to a Category 3 by Sunday morning.

“Some change successful strength are apt complete nan adjacent mates of days, but Erin is expected to stay a vulnerable awesome hurricane done nan mediate of this week,” nan hurricane halfway said successful an update Sunday.

The large wind is besides expected to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to nan East Coast during nan week.

Tropical large wind warnings person been issued successful Turks and Caicos and nan southeast Bahamas, according to nan hurricane center.

In Puerto Rico’s Sierra Bayamón neighborhood, a suspension insulator collapsed and a conductor fell to nan crushed owed to inclement upwind conditions, Luma Energy said connected Facebook. Crews are connected nan crushed were moving to repair nan statement connected Sunday morning.

Luma Energy advised nan nationalist to debar stepping aliases driving done flooded areas, particularly adjacent downed powerfulness lines.