Hurricane Gonzalo slams Bermuda

Hurricane Gonzalo slammed Bermuda on Friday evening, lashing the British island territory with heavy rain, strong winds and high waves. The storm is the strongest to hit the tiny island chain in more than a decade.

Gonzalo's eyewall, the strongest part of the storm, moved directly over Bermuda, knocking out power to 80 percent of the island's electrical grid.

"At least part of the island, if not the entire island, is going to be in the eye," US National Hurricane Center specialist Stacy Stewart said. "It's a very large eye."

The hurricane made landfall as a strong Category 2 storm, bringing maximum sustained winds of 110 miles (175 kilomters) per hour and 30 foot (9 meter) waves. Residents reported damage to homes and downed power lines, though no injuries or fatalities have yet been reported.

Bermuda Governor George Ferguson has urged residents to stay off the roads and heed emergency messages.

"I wish everyone all the best, for the next 24 hours. Good luck, and look after each other," Ferguson said.

The storm is expected to weaken slowly overnight as it moves north past Bermuda into cooler waters. A tropical storm warning watch has been issued for parts of southeastern Newfoundland, which lies close to Gonzalo's projected path.

The last major hurricane to hit Bermuda was Fabian in 2003, which killed four people and caused more than $100 million (78 million euros) in damage. The tiny island territory is a popular luxury tourist destination, an offshore financial center and has one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world.

bw/jm (Reuters, AP, dpa)