Sat Aug 16 13:36:51 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, followed by a summary of the sections preceding it:

**News Article:**

**Hurricane Erin Strengthens to Category 4, Threatens Caribbean Islands, Bermuda**

**San Juan, Puerto Rico – August 16, 2025** – Hurricane Erin has intensified into a powerful Category 4 hurricane in the Caribbean Sea, packing maximum sustained winds of 230 kph and moving west-northwest at 31 kph. As of Saturday evening, the storm was located 240 kilometers northeast of Anguilla.

While currently not projected to make direct landfall, Erin’s strong winds and heavy rainfall are already impacting nearby islands, prompting warnings of potential flooding, landslides, and mudslides. Tropical storm watches are in effect for St. Martin, St. Barts, and St. Maarten.

The National Hurricane Center anticipates heavy rainfall across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Sunday. Although compact now, Erin is expected to grow in size, resulting in rough ocean conditions across the western Atlantic.

Hurricane specialist Michael Lowry forecasts a sharp northeast turn next week, steering the storm between the U.S. and Bermuda. While the U.S. is expected to be spared a direct hit, Bermuda could face a closer brush with the storm’s stronger eastern side. Accuweather also notes that protruding U.S. coastal areas such as North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, face a higher risk of direct and potentially severe tropical storm or hurricane conditions.

Erin is the first hurricane of what is expected to be an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict six to ten hurricanes, with three to five reaching major status.

In preparation, the U.S. government has deployed over 200 FEMA employees and other agency personnel to Puerto Rico, where a flood watch is in effect. Housing Secretary Ciary Perez Pena stated that 367 shelters have been inspected and are ready for use if needed. The U.S. Coast Guard has closed six seaports in Puerto Rico and two in the U.S. Virgin Islands to most incoming vessels.

Bahamian officials are also taking precautions, preparing public shelters and urging residents to monitor the storm’s progress. “These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement,” warned Aarone Sargent, managing director for the Bahamas’ disaster risk management authority.

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