Washington, August 16 (H.S.) : The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has sounded the alarm as the Atlantic’s first major storm of the season, Hurricane Erin, has rapidly intensified into a powerful Category 4 system, packing life-threatening winds and dangerous seas.

As of the latest advisory, Erin was churning about 193 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Anguilla, with sustained winds screaming at 233 km/h (145 mph)—placing it firmly in the “extremely dangerous” category.

The NHC warned that towering surf and storm swells will pound the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Turks and Caicos through the weekend. By early next week, the hurricane’s reach could extend to the Bahamas, Bermuda, and even the U.S. East Coast.

In addition to violent winds and massive waves, Erin is expected to unleash torrential rainfall through Sunday across the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Experts at the Hurricane Center cautioned that if Erin continues to strengthen at its current pace, coastal communities could face destructive winds, dangerous storm surge, and widespread flooding, posing a serious risk to lives and property.

Local governments have urged residents in the storm’s potential path to remain on high alert, follow official advisories, and prepare emergency supplies as the powerful system bears down on the Caribbean and beyond.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar