Dutch Caribbean brace as hurricane Erin strengthens after killing eight in Cape Verde
Hurricane Erin is moving across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean, where Dutch islands Saba, Sint-Eustatius, and Sint-Maarten are bracing for impact after the storm already killed at least eight people in Cape Verde. Authorities warn the hurricane could rapidly intensify over the weekend into a major storm, NOS reports.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Friday that Erin has strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of up to 110 miles per hour. Meteorologists expect the storm to reach Category 3 later this weekend and possibly Category 4, with wind speeds of 130 to 156 miles per hour.
On Sint-Maarten, the government ordered all government offices closed so residents could prepare and protect their families. In Saba and Sint-Eustatius, officials called on residents to secure outdoor belongings and take extra precautions. Airports on several islands have suspended operations, and warnings have also been issued for Anguilla, Barbuda, and Saint Barthélemy.
Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands are preparing as well. The U.S. government has sent about 200 Federal Emergency Management Agency staff to Puerto Rico in advance, and several airports there have already been shut down.
Forecasters said Erin is likely to remain over open water, but experts warned that such storms can shift direction suddenly, keeping the risk high for the Dutch Caribbean territories.
The storm already caused heavy destruction in Cape Verde, where torrential rain triggered floods and mudslides. At least eight people were reportedly killed, three are missing, and roads were washed out, leaving communities cut off from the outside world. Officials say that they fear the death toll could rise as rescue work continues.
