14:54 06Sep2003 Four missing, power out after Fabian whips Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Four people were missing, power
was out in 25,000 homes and many roads were impassible in Bermuda on
Saturday as the mid-Atlantic British colony began mopping up after Hurricane
Fabian's fierce assault.
Fabian, the most powerful storm to hit Bermuda in 50 years, swept over
on Friday, lashing the island with winds of up to 120 mph (190 kph), felling
trees and power lines and causing flooding in some areas.
Bermuda Premier Alex Scott said four people, including two police
officers, were missing after two cars plunged into turbulent seas off the
Causeway, a highway that links to the main island to the airport, on Friday
afternoon.
There was no word yet of other injuries on the off-shore financial
center and tourist playground of 62,000 residents. But Police Commissioner
Jonathan Smith urged people to check their neighbors were all right on
Saturday.
Members of the island's part-time army, the Bermuda Regiment, began
unblocking roads strewn with trees on the 22-square-mile (57-sq-km) island.
"There's a substantial amount of road clearing to do," Smith said.
Officials did not yet have any details of damage to building and homes,
although government spokesman John Burchall said several parts of the wall
on Causeway had collapsed and that road was closed.
Burchall said some people were using the five emergency shelters set up
across the island.
The roofs of the island's four police stations suffered damage in the
storm. But widespread severe damage to property was unlikely as most
buildings on the island are made of concrete and Bermuda also has building
codes to ensure new structures can withstand storms.
"There has been considerable blockages of roads and Works and
Engineering (government workers) and the Bermuda regiment are attempting to
clear them," Burchall said.
"We've experienced a considerable beating when the storm was at its
highest. We are coping and attempting to come to terms with the extent of
the damage but it would be premature to assess the extent."
Officials urged people to clear roads near their homes but not to
venture near possible fallen live power lines.
Fabian hit Bermuda, which lies about 560 miles (900 km) east of South
Carolina, as a Category 3 storm on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale of
hurricane intensity.
The most powerful storm of this Atlantic hurricane season, it was also
the most powerful storm to hit Bermuda since Hurricane Edna hit in September
1953 with 120 mph (190 kph) winds.
Premier Scott said he would be touring the island later in the morning,
and despite the grim situation, added, "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 island, which draws tourists because of its mild climate, golf and
beaches, is also an important offshore insurance center and home to
registered offices of some 12,500 international companies.
By Saturday morning, Fabian had moved well away and was clipping along
in the open Atlantic heading northeast, forecasters in Miami said.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT)
the storm's center was located near latitude 35.6 north, longitude 63.3 west
or about 245 miles (390 km) north-northeast of Bermuda.
Fabian, still carrying maximum winds of near 115 mph (185 kph), was
moving toward the northeast at around 21 mph (33 kph) and was expected to
continue in this direction for the day.
A Category 3 hurricane can be expected to cause some damage to small
residences and fell trees, and to destroy mobile homes and badly built
signs.
Saturday, 06 September 2003 14:54:55RTRS [nN06207334] {C}ENDS