THOUSANDS were left without power after Hurricane Erin battered the Caribbean and hurtled towards the US – with the storm still expected to strengthen.
The hurricane, which is now category 3, brought heavy rainfall and vicious winds to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Sunday, cutting power for some 100,000 locals.
Luma Energy, Puerto Rico’s private power grid operator, revealed that most of its customers on the island had working electricity by Sunday afternoon.
The operator said on X: “As of 5:00 p.m., 92.5% of customers have electrical service.
“The majority of affected customers are concentrated in the regions of Arecibo, Caguas, and San Juan, as the rain bands have been moving out of Puerto Rico.”
They added: “Our crews are working with precision to ensure safety and continuity of service.”
The storm caused “multiple interruptions across the island”, the company said earlier.
Hurricane Erin also saw two divers swept amid powerful waves near St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
They had to be rescued by local crews on Sunday, authorities announced.
Shocking footage showed taken by St. Croix Rescue Chief Jason Henry showed the divers being dramatically hauled over onto a boat.
On the island of Sint Maarten, footage showed palm trees swaying in violent winds.
Its local government said cleanup crews were clearing debris since Sunday morning.
A large amount of Sargassum seaweed also reached the shore – which could contain harmful toxins poisonous to people and marine life.
Erin has been labelled category 3 after multiple fluctuations in the last several days.
On Saturday it was considered to be a catastrophic category 5 hurricane.
Outer bands are continuing to sweep over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, pummelling coasts with heavy rain and strong winds.
Rainfall was recorded between two and four inches.
Up to six inches is likely to fall in some areas.
Fears are mounting that this could lead to flash flooding or mudslides.
As of 5pm local time on Sunday, Erin was 275 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
It had maximum sustained winds of 125mph, and is reportedly currently moving west.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón warned residents to stay home if possible.
There are no reports of flooding on the island so far – but the worst weather is expected to impact the region within the next six hours, officials said.
Terrifying footage on X also showed heavy rain falling in Cidra in central Puerto Rico on Sunday.
The hurricane is expected to strengthen in the next two days before taking a north-ward turn on Monday and Tuesday.
The storm is then forecast to gradually weaken through the middle and latter half of next week as it passes between the US and Bermuda.
Tropical storm warnings have been issued in Turks and Caicos and the southeast Bahamas, according to authorities.
In Sierra Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a suspension insulator broke and a conductor fell to the ground because of the stormy weather.
Luma Energy also advised the public to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas, especially near downed power lines.
