AMSTERDAM- Hurricane Erin swept past the northern Leeward Islands, including Sint-Maarten (SXM), Saba, and Sint-Eustatius, as a Category 4 storm. While the Dutch Caribbean islands avoided major damage, heavy rainfall and hazardous sea conditions remain a threat. The storm also forced a KLM (KL) flight KL789 bound for Sint-Maarten to turn back to Schiphol Airport (AMS).
Authorities in Saba confirmed that hurricane-force winds no longer pose a risk, but residents face up to 250 millimeters of rainfall, raising the likelihood of flooding and mudslides. Coastal areas continue to see dangerous waves reaching 2.5 meters, and officials advise against non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrKLM Flight Returns to Amsterdam
A KLM Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered as PH-BHO, operating from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Sint-Maarten (SXM), was forced to return mid-flight on Saturday after conditions worsened.
According to the airline, weather updates received during the flight confirmed Erin’s rapid intensification, prompting the pilots to decide to turn back.
“At the time of departure, it was considered safe and responsible to fly,” a KLM spokesperson explained. “During the flight, it became clear that the hurricane had strengthened, and the pilots turned the plane around.” Passengers were rebooked to depart again on Sunday, depending on weather conditions.
Hurricane Erin’s center was tracked 600 kilometers east of Grand Turk and around 235 kilometers northeast of Puerto Rico (SJU), with sustained winds between 225 and 240 kilometers per hour.
Although it briefly peaked as a Category 5 storm with winds of 257 kilometers per hour, its strength eased slightly as it moved closer to the Caribbean.
Forecasts indicate the storm will pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas by Sunday evening and Monday. Despite staying largely over open water, its unpredictable path continues to pose risks to the Dutch Caribbean territories.
Local governments in Sint-Maarten, Saba, and Sint-Eustatius urged residents to secure belongings and prepare for possible emergencies.
Public offices in Sint-Maarten closed in advance, and airports across several islands—including Anguilla (AXA), Barbuda (BBQ), and Saint Barthélemy (SBH)—suspended operations.
Authorities in Saba confirmed that hurricane-force winds no longer pose a risk, but residents face up to 250 millimeters of rainfall, raising the likelihood of flooding and mudslides.
Coastal areas continue to see dangerous waves reaching 2.5 meters, and officials advise against non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Photo: By Bill Abbott – cDSC_0337, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54266347Regional Preparations
Puerto Rico (SJU) and the British Virgin Islands are also on alert. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency deployed around 200 staff to Puerto Rico ahead of the storm. Several airports across the region closed as a precaution, disrupting air traffic throughout the northern Caribbean.
In Cape Verde, where Erin originated, the storm has already caused significant destruction. Torrential rains triggered floods and mudslides, leaving roads impassable and communities isolated.
Officials confirmed at least eight fatalities, with three people missing, and warned the toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
Meteorologists at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) expect Erin to maintain major hurricane status as it tracks northwest. While its trajectory suggests it will remain offshore, the potential for sudden shifts means the Dutch Caribbean islands remain under close watch.
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