News from Bermuda as of
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Bill brushes Bermuda
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| Published on Monday, August 24, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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By Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters) - Hurricane Bill doused Bermuda with rain and battered its shores with powerful surf on Saturday as it moved on a path off the US East Coast.
Residents of Bermuda, a 20 square mile (53 sq km) island British territory and a center for the global insurance industry, mostly stayed off the streets overnight as the Category 2 hurricane charged by more than 200 miles (320 km) to the west.
But no casualties were immediately reported and damage appeared to have been minimal. The island's airport was due to reopen later on Saturday.
As it passed west of Bermuda, Bill pushed rolling surf onto the island's beaches, where authorities had posted signs prohibiting swimming.
But Bermudians, who are used to Atlantic storms, were shrugging off the hurricane.
"We've had worse, but it's better to be safe than sorry," said Robert Marquez, front desk manager at Bermuda's upscale The Reefs Hotel.
"Now we are just busy helping our guests and rearranging any flights that were canceled this morning," he added.
Earlier in the week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had wrapped up a brief private vacation in Bermuda and left the island on Thursday before the storm. | | | | Reads : 934 | | | |
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