Hurricane Igor is moving away from Bermuda after pounding the Island with winds as high as 93 miles per hour.

At 7 a.m. on Monday, September 20, Bermuda Police Service spokesman Dwayne Caines said no major injuries, or deaths, have been reported as a result of the Category 1 storm that started showing its presence on the Island on Saturday.

Belco reported "considerable damage to the electricity distribution system Island-wide" at 8.30 a.m.

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At 6 a.m. the Bermuda Weather Service reported: Hurricane Igor is moving away to the north-northeast; however, strong tropical storm force winds continue early this morning.

Winds ease below tropical storm force late this afternoon. Significant storm surge continues in some areas early this morning but will ease through the day. High pressure builds into the area tonight through midweek, allowing for mainly fine conditions.

This morning, Mr. Caines who has been keeping Bermuda updated at the Emergency Broadcast Radio Station this weekend, said: "There has been property damage all around the Island and lots of trees and debris in roads. At first light we will get an assessment.

We would like to stress for persons to please stay off the roads so first responders can carry out their jobs quickly and efficiently."

St. George’s in particular has been hit heavily according to residents on Follow It Live.

Susan McGrath-Smith, spokeswoman for Belco, said at 8.30 a.m.: "With the storm moving away from the Island, BELCO is beginning damage assessment, restoration planning and power restoration. This is a demanding process that takes time and a lot of work.

"We still have 28,700 customers without power. We also have many reports of broken poles, wires down and transformers down, affecting both high voltage and low voltage lines.

"At first look, there appears to be considerable damage to the electricity distribution system Island-wide.

"Damage assessment teams and work crews are being mobilized, while customer service representatives are also coming in. As we get people out across the Island, we will begin to get a better picture of the state of our system."

Mrs. McGrath-Smith has provided 12 updates on Belco’s system since Igor began.

Earlier this morning this newspaper reported the storm passed 41 nautical miles to the west of the Island at around midnight, which appeared to be its closest point of impact.

Because it didn't go directly over Bermuda, the Island caught some of the more fierce winds at the edge of Igor, according to a British Airways first officer who spoke to The Royal Gazette this morning.

Graeme Clark, who has been monitoring the weather throughout the evening, was part of the crew that flew the last plane into Bermuda on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

The crew is staying at the Fairmont Hamilton and will be on the first British Airways flight out of Bermuda.

Mr. Clark said Bermuda has seen some of the worst winds of Hurricane Igor.

"We were expecting a lull when the eye passed, but we haven't seen that," he said.

When asked if Bermuda saw weaker winds because the eye did not pass straight over the Island he said: "I think this is as bad as it would have got because the highest wind speed is around the eye so we are actually in the full force of it without the lull. But we should still see the wind head in the other direction shortly when the storm passes.

"That will be interesting because all the trees bending one way will now be pushed the other way."

Bermuda Weather Service said gusts hit 81 knots (93 mph) at 11.22 p.m. at L.F. Wade International Airport. By 11.55 p.m., gusts were down to 73 knots (84 mph), with sustained winds at 57 knots (66 mph).

In their 12 a.m. update, weathermen said Igor's sustained winds remained 65 knots (75 mph), with gusts of 85 knots (98 mph). At that stage, it was heading north at a speed of 12 knots (14mph).

The Royal Gazette website will have stories throughout the day from across the Island as well as live discussions on Follow It Live.