The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

CAT Islanders will have to sit through category 3 Hurricane Matthew in darkness as Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) has shut down the electricity supply to the entire island, according to island administrator Jackson McIntosh on Wednesday night.

Mr McIntosh suggested that this was due to the island now experiencing high, gusty winds and heavy intermittent rain, which he considered “much different” from the calm conditions Cat Island experienced this morning.

In anticipation of the deteriorating weather conditions, Mr McIntosh said about 120 islanders evacuated their homes to relocate to a shelter on the island.

“The island is now in complete darkness,” Mr McIntosh said when he was contacted by The Tribune. “It has been off for about two hours so far. So everyone is making the best of it and are prepared to endure whatever Matthew brings.”

Cat Island was expected to experience tropical storm force winds at 8am on Wednesday and hurricane force winds from as early as 4pm.