Hurricane Gonzalo blacks out most of Bermuda

Streets are flooded following hurricane Gonzalo in Marigot on the French Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Photo taken from Daily Mirror

Hurricane Gonzalo has roared through Bermuda, cutting power to most of its inhabitants and threatening floods.

Emergency services are waiting for daybreak to assess the full damage wreaked by the second powerful storm to strike the island in less than a week.

Hurricane #Gonzalo Intermediate advisory 23A issued. http://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc

— Natl Hurricane Ctr (@NHC_Atlantic) October 18, 2014

Hurricane Gonzalo is making landfall in Bermuda. @RobMarciano tracks it all now on #WorldNewsTonight pic.twitter.com/A2MUtuaqiY

— World News Tonight (@WNTonight) October 17, 2014

Hurricane Gonzalo live stream: Bermuda lashed by 130mph winds before giant storm heads for UK http://t.co/9QYcYu7EU2 pic.twitter.com/DL23X1V9pK

— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 17, 2014

Hurricane Gonzalo scores direct hit on Bermuda http://t.co/igKTu2E6RQ

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 18, 2014

Conditions worsen as Hurricane #Gonzalo hits Bermuda. Watch live video from the port: http://t.co/JnvUhSntNm pic.twitter.com/S5PBm2YUKg

— Mashable (@mashable) October 17, 2014

Cat 4 #Gonzalo's hurricane force winds extend out 60 mi from center. Bermuda is only 22 mi long. -- @MeganGlaros pic.twitter.com/GL0u9hCs4E

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) October 17, 2014

Strong winds and heavy surf continued after the eye of the hurricane moved north into the Atlantic, and tidal surges are still possible.

Top wind speeds of about 175km/h (110mph) were reported.

Bermuda, an affluent British overseas territory in the western Atlantic, frequently sees strong tropical storms.

Hurricane Gonzalo is seen over the Atlantic Ocean in this NASA image taken by astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station October 17, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Just days ago, Tropical Storm Fay damaged homes and knocked down trees and power lines on the island.

"To be struck twice by two different cyclones is unusual, to say the least," said Max Mayfield, a former director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

One person died in the Dutch territory of St Maarten after Gonzalo passed over the Caribbean.

People stand on the island's south shore to feel the winds from approaching Hurricane Gonzalo, in Astwood Park, October 17, 2014. Photo: Reuters

WAVE THREAT

Terrified islanders sheltered in darkness from Gonzalo as power was cut to some 31,200 homes, accounting for most of the island's 64,900 residents, Bermuda's Royal Gazette said in a report.

People reported destroyed porches and other damage while part of the roof at the main hospital was damaged and there was water damage in the new intensive care unit, police spokesman Dwayne Caines was quoted as saying by AP news agency.

People stand on the island's south shore to feel the winds from approaching Hurricane Gonzalo, in Astwood Park, October 17, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Flooding and storm surges were being reported as fallen trees blocked roads over large areas, according to the Royal Gazette.

"Water damage especially from the wave action will take the biggest toll," Mayfield predicted.

With initial wind speeds of 205km/h, Gonzalo was labelled as a category 4 storm on Thursday but downgraded to category 3, then 2, on Friday.