Last Updated: Saturday, 6 September, 2003, 19:18 GMT 20:18 UK

Hurricane pummels Bermuda

Four people are missing, feared dead, after their vehicles were swept away in the most powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda in 50 years.

Two police officers and two civilians are thought to have been blown into the sea as they travelled along a shattered causeway connecting the main island to the airport.

Search efforts had to be suspended as winds reached nearly 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) on Friday, but resumed on Saturday, officials said.

Hurricane Fabian has now moved away from the British dependency in the Atlantic Ocean, leaving islanders to assess the damage caused to their homes, power lines and vegetation.

Click here to see what causes a hurricane, and the predicted path of Hurricane Fabian

The worst was over by 0500 local time (0900 GMT), according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre.

'Getting hammered'

"This storm is the most powerful one we've seen in years," said Bermuda government spokesman John Burchall. "The surge and the debris are making it incredibly difficult to carry out search and rescue operations."

The island has hurricane-resistant homes and a sturdy infrastructure, but the Category Three storm caused power cuts affecting more than 25,000 homes and left hospitals dependent on their own generators.

Trees were ripped in half, tiles torn from roofs and even the satellite dish and instruments used by Bermuda's Weather Service to measure wind speeds were ripped from their moorings and lost.

Hospitals were reporting minor injuries, with many people hit by flying debris or falling on slippery roads.

"We are getting hammered. It's pretty unbelievable," Jackie Brisson told Reuters at the height of the storm.

"At the property in front of us, the yard is three feet (one metre) under water and the sea wall is collapsing."

"The waves are coming over the roofs of the houses, which are 24 feet (7.3 metres) high. It's just terrible here.

"There is debris everywhere. My pool is covered in bits of porch and palm trees," she added.

Seeking refuge

Before the storm's arrival, airports in Bermuda were closed and all flights cancelled. The howling winds covered roads with debris and rendered the causeway from the main island to the airport impassable.

Islanders sheltered in their homes or fled inland.

"It's terrific to watch but it's still intimidating," said Susan Chandler, an American tourist.

"There's so much sea-spray ...it looks like it's snowing."

But locals found ways to keep their spirits up.

"We've come up with a Fabian cocktail for our guests," said Paul S Tormey, manager of The Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel, which has nearly 300 guests.

"The drinks will have umbrellas turned inside out."

The last powerful hurricane to hit Bermuda was Hurricane Emily in 1987, a Category One storm that caused more than US$50m in damage.

Bermuda - which was settled by British colonists who were shipwrecked on their way to Virginia - enjoys one of the highest average incomes in the world.

Bermuda counts cost of hurricane

The people of Bermuda have been assessing the damage caused by a powerful hurricane which swept into the British territory on Friday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction and four people missing.

Hurricane Fabian, pushing winds of 193 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour), was the worst to hit the island in 50 years.

Some 25,000 homes are still without electricity after power lines were downed, trees snapped and roofs ripped off by the force of the wind.

"We have experienced a considerable beating," John Burchall, a spokesman for the Bermuda Government said, as officials warned that it will take days to fully assess the damage

The four missing people - two police officers and two civilians - are thought to have been swept into the sea in their cars as they travelled along a shattered causeway connecting the main island to the airport.

Divers have joined the search for the four, but their efforts have been hampered by poor visibility.

According to government spokeswoman Valerie Pethen, nine people had to be treated for hurricane-related injuries, but none of them were serious.

Unable to return home

The direct hit from the Category 3 hurricane has caused damage to some of Bermuda's famously sturdy houses, which are built to withstand the high winds which often buffet the island.

"We've gotten lots of reports of slate that covers many roofs blowing away. We've had minor structural damage from debris such as broken windows and downed power lines," police spokesman Dwayne Caines said.

Dozens of locals from coastal areas have been forced to remain in the government shelters or inland hotels where they had sought refuge as the storm made landfall.

There are reports of extensive flooding and the island's celebrated golf courses have been devastated.

Massive waves pummelled yachts which had taken shelter in the island's ports, and three men had a lucky escape when they spent the night battling 6-metre (20 foot) high swells after their boat broke its moorings.

The owner of the new US$200,000 boat, Jay Simmons, told the Associated Press he was not prepared to let the vessel go down without a fight and called upon his brother Vaughan and friend Brendan Robinson to help.

"My life flashed before my eyes a few times. I don't think I have ever seen anything like this and I don't think I will again. We are lucky to be alive," Mr Simmons said.

Navy taskforce

Despite the destruction the spirit of the locals remains unbroken and the clean-up operation has already begun:

"I am so very glad I am a Bermudian because I know what is going to happen next. We are going to come together like we always do. The world will watch us and learn about real community," Premier Alex Scott said as he toured the island on Saturday.

A Royal Navy taskforce is on its way to Bermuda to help with the efforts.

"At this time, the full extent of the damage to the island's infrastructure is unclear but our Royal Navy taskforce, together with the local authorities, will work hard to restore essential services as fast as possible," said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell.