Cristobal becomes hurricane, moves from Bahamas

Cristobal moved away from the Bahamas after strengthening into a hurricane, leaving a swath of soaked Caribbean islands and at least five fatalities in its wake. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said that by early Tuesday the hurricane was centered about 610 miles (980 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving north at 12 mph (19 kph). The storm was projected to gradually take an even more northeastward track, and pass to the west and north of Bermuda on Wednesday. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 45 miles (75 kilometers) from the center, and tropical force winds extended outward up to 205 miles (335 kilometers). Before strengthening into a hurricane, Cristobal flooded several communities across the Caribbean and halted flights in the drenched Turks and Caicos Islands. Government offices and banks were shuttered Monday on the low-lying islands that are highly vulnerable to flooding from heavy rains and storm surge, and authorities said many homes were flooded, according to AP.