Canada- Bermuda gears up for Hurricane Gonzalo

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The resort island chain of Bermuda braced yesterday for a hit from Hurricane Gonzalo, forecast to produce flooding, strong winds and a life-threatening storm surge.

The capital Hamilton was eerily quiet as people retreated to the safety of their homes.

Schools, businesses, grocery stores and government offices all closed early on Thursday, and many people boarded up the windows of their homes and placed sandbags outside in preparation of potential landfall in the evening.

As of early yesterday, Gonzalo's winds were whirling at 200km per hour, with even stronger gusts, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Gonzalo has already killed one person in the Caribbean and triggered a hurricane warning for the British overseas territory, which is home to around 60,000 people.

The storm was just 150 miles south-southwest of the tourist hub's shores, with forecasters predicting dangerous conditions just 12 to 18 hours away. The NHC warned of "significant" flooding along the coast. "Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion this morning," the NHC said in its 1500 GMT bulletin.

The major storm, a category three on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, was swirling at 16 miles per hour as it headed north-northeast toward the island chain. It had reached category four strength a day earlier.

"A dangerous and life-threatening storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in Bermuda," the NHC said.

"The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves."

Officials urged residents to stay indoors and off the roads. "I wish everyone all the best for the next 24 hours. Good luck - and look after each other," said Governor George Fergusson, the representative of the British crown in the archipelago.