Hurricane Ernesto aims for Bermuda after leaving many in Puerto Rico without power or water

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Ernesto barrelled toward Bermuda on Thursday after leaving hundreds of thousands of people in Puerto Rico without power or water as sweltering heat enveloped the US territory, raising concerns about people's health.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda, with Ernesto expected to pass near or over the island on Saturday.

The Category 1 storm was located about 605 miles (975 kilometres) south-southwest of Bermuda on Thursday morning. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and was moving north at 13 mph (20 kph).

"I cannot stress enough how important it is for every resident to use this time to prepare. We have seen in the past the devastating effects of complacency," said National Security Minister Michael Weeks.

Ernesto was forecast to become a major Category 3 hurricane on Friday and then decrease in strength as it approaches Bermuda, where it is expected to drop between four to eight inches of rain, with up to 12 inches in isolated areas.

"All of the guidance show this system as a large hurricane near Bermuda," said the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Meanwhile, the spinning storm on Thursday was generating southern winds in Puerto Rico, which have a heating effect as opposed to the typical cooling trade winds that blow from the east.

"We know a lot of people don't have power," said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service as he warned of extreme heat and urged people to stay hydrated.

More than 450,000 of 1.4 million customers remained in the dark more than a day after Ernesto swiped past Puerto Rico late Tuesday as a tropical storm before strengthening into a hurricane.

Hundreds of thousands also were without water as many questioned the widespread power outage given that Ernesto was only a tropical storm when it spun past the island.

At least 350,000 customers across Puerto Rico also were without water given the power outages. Among them was 65-year-old Gisela Pérez, who was starting to sweat as she cooked sweet plantains, pork, chicken and spaghetti at a street-side diner.

After her shift, she planned to buy gallons of water, since she was especially concerned about her two small dogs: Mini and Lazy.

"They cannot go without it," she said. "They come first."

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