Fabian's Trail Of Destruction
Sun Herald
Sunday September 7, 2003
FOUR people are feared dead after the most powerful cyclone to hit Bermuda in 50 years unleashed deadly winds that split trees in half and swept trucks off roads.
By nightfall yesterday, the hurricane's 190-kilometre winds had eased as Fabian pushed away from Bermuda, but officials were inundated with reports of widespread damage.
Two people and two police officers were swept into white-capped waters when winds blew their vehicles off a shattered causeway connecting Bermuda's main island to the airport.
Searches were suspended last night because of the strong storm surge.
Hospitals reported minor injuries. Many people said they had been hit by flying debris. Some reported falling on slippery roads.
The storm knocked out power in 25,000 homes, tore slate tiles from roofs, covered roads with debris and made the airport causeway impassable.
Many of the holiday spot's golf courses were in ruins.
``This storm is the most powerful one we've seen in years," said John Burchall, the Bermuda Government's spokesman. ``The surge and debris are making it incredibly difficult to do search and rescue operations."
Cyclone Fabian has seriously tested the wealthy British territory's vaunted ability to withstand a fierce storm.
The chain of 150 islands requires newly built houses to be able to withstand sustained winds of 177kmh. The developed territory also has many underground power and phone lines.
But Bermuda had not seen a Category 3 hurricane like Fabian since 1954 when Hurricane Edna slammed into Bermuda with its 185kmh winds.
``My neighbour is using a mop to hold up her kitchen ceiling," said Honey Adams, a government official.
``The [St George's] golf course is a disaster area."
The satellite dish and instruments to measure wind speeds were ripped from their moorings and blown away from the Bermuda Weather Service.
Islanders bolted themselves inside homes or fled to hotels, some of which reported gushing leaks.
Airports were closed and all flights to Bermuda cancelled. It was unclear when the airport would reopen because part of the wall on the causeway going to the airport had been washed away.
About 160 people were moved out of the Sonesta Beach Hotel in the south, where three-metre waves were crashing against the rocky coastline. Hundreds of others temporarily left their coastal homes.
Fabian's eye had passed less than 55 kilometres west of Bermuda's largest island, which is 34 kilometres long and only two kilometres wide.
Weather was improving but storm surges were still strong.
Surges were expected to ease last night, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.
About 62,000 people live in the British territory 1300 kilometres south-east of New York.
© 2003 Sun Herald