By Sam Strangeways
HAMILTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Igor churned across the Atlantic Ocean towards Bermuda on Saturday packing powerful winds and heavy rains as island residents stocked up on supplies and worked to secure their homes.
The Category 2 storm was located about 440 miles (710 kms) south of the tiny British overseas territory at 11 a.m. (4 p.m. British time). The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Igor was on a path to reach Bermuda late on Sunday, but warned tropical storm weather was expected later Saturday.
"Igor is expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches Bermuda," the Miami-based hurricane centre said.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Bermuda, a wealthy hub for the global insurance industry and one of the world's most isolated yet densely populated islands.
Most stores and restaurants in the capital of Hamilton were boarded up and many residents stocked up on gas, batteries, food and candles.
"The shutters are up, I've put tape across the windows and I've got a lot of buckets ready," said Eddie DeSilva, a 64-year-old cleaner.
Bermuda's buildings are some of the best-constructed in the world, weather forecasters and analysts say, which could help mitigate any potential storm damage.
Igor had sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph), with hurricane-force winds extending out for 105 miles (165 km), the hurricane centre said.
'SEVERAL-DAY SIEGE'
The Bermuda government warned residents to prepare for an impact similar to the one they experienced in the 2003 Hurricane Fabian, which killed four people and caused millions of dollars of damage.
Authorities were planning to close the island's international airport and a causeway linking it to the rest of Bermuda later on Saturday.
The National Hurricane Centre said it could not rule out Igor regaining Category 3 status before it reaches Bermuda, but said "it appears less likely than previously thought."
Hurricane expert Joe Bastardi with private U.S. forecaster AccuWeather said Bermuda should be prepared for a "several-day siege of damaging winds and waves."
The hurricane centre predicted total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches (12 to 20 cm) over Bermuda. It said the storm will likely produce significant coastal flooding and large, destructive waves, particularly along the southern coast.
East of Igor, Tropical Storm Julia posed no threat to land and its 50 mph/(80 kph) winds were expected to weaken over the next two days.
In Mexico, the remnants of Hurricane Karl, now a tropical depression, continued to dissipate over the mountains of southern Mexico after killing two people in a mudslide Friday.
A small child also drowned in her flooded home in southern Tabasco state during the storm, local authorities said.
Karl appeared to have spared Mexican oil operations from major damage after sweeping through the Bay of Campeche, where Mexico produces more than two-thirds of its 2.55 million barrels per day of crude output.
(Additional reporting by Luis Manuel Lopez in Villahermosa, Mexico; Writing by Kevin Gray; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
