At least one man has been killed in the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten as hurricane Gonzalo continues to strengthen after it intensified into a major Category 3 storm on Tuesday, weather forecasters said.
The elderly man, who remained unidentified as of press time, was seen boarding a boat in St. Maarten's Simpson Bay Lagoon, which The Associated Press described to be looking like a "ship graveyard" due to several boats destroyed during the storm.
While police said that there were no reported missing in St. Maarten, authorities have revealed that they are currently conducting search operations for a man who was last seen on a dinghy and for another man last seen at a harbor in St. Barts, The Associated Press reported.
Citing the National Hurricane Center, AP reported that Hurricane Gonzalo, which is heading toward Bermuda at sustained winds of almost 115 mph or 185 kph, could even reach Category 4 storm, a severe tropical cyclone which can cause destruction, significant roofing loss, and structural damage.
Category 4 storms have sustained winds of at least 130 mph or 209 kph, while Category 3 storms have wind speeds of at least 111 mph or 178 kph.
A separate Reuters report said that hurricane Gonzalo which moves northwest at 13 mph or 20 kph was located at about 770 miles or 1,240 km south of Bermuda as of Tuesday.
The report, quoting hurricane expert Jeff Masters, also said that hurricane Gonzalo, the sixth hurricane of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, has a high chance of being the "Atlantic's first Category 4 hurricane since October 2, 2011."
Forecasts, however, showed that hurricane Gonzalo has not posed any threat to the mainland United States as it continues to move into the Atlantic, the report added.
The Associated Press reported that hurricane Gonzalo caused power outage and water interruption in most of the Dutch Caribbean territory. Reports also said several houses lost roofs, doors, and windows.
On the other hand, Reuters said that no significant damage or power loss was reported in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico but the areas have continuously experienced light to moderate rains and wind gusts.
Classes in public schools at the eastern portion of Puerto Rico have already been suspended but officials claim the move was just precautionary. Classes in public schools elsewhere and work at government offices remain unsuspended, Reuters added. Flights departing Bermuda have been fully-booked since Thursday as well as hotels, AP said.
Meanwhile, AP reported that an official from the St.Maarten Zoological and Botanical Foundation said that the St. Maarten Zoo was heavily damaged but no animals have been reported missing or dead.
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