© AP Photo/Gerry BroomeA man walks by the excursion boat 'Bermudian' after it broke loose and was pushed to shore by Hurricane Igor in St. George, Bermuda, Monday, Sept. 20, 2010.
The storm, already blamed for sweeping three people to their deaths, clung to hurricane status with winds of 75 mph (120 kph) as it sped away from the United States on a path projected to take it close by Newfoundland, Canada, on Tuesday.
In this tiny British Atlantic territory, the storm toppled trees and utility poles as its center passed 40 miles (65 kilometers) to the west overnight. Several boats ran aground, including a ferry, The Bermudian, that is used to bring cruise ship passengers to shore. No major damage or injuries were reported.
By Monday afternoon, the hurricane's center was about 350 miles (560 kilometers) north-northeast of Bermuda and moving to the northeast at 36 mph (43 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.
A tropical storm warning was issued for the coast of Newfoundland, where people were urged to prepare for possible flooding and power outages.
The Canadian company Husky Energy began evacuating workers from two semi-submersible drill rigs working the White Rose offshore oilfield, spokeswoman Colleen McConnell said.
Igor was not a direct threat to the United States, but forecasters said it would cause high surf and dangerous rip currents.
A 21-year-old man died while surfing in the storm-churned waves off Surf City, N.C, where he was pulled from the water on Sunday afternoon. Last week, the high surf kicked up by Igor swept two people out to sea in the Caribbean - one in Puerto Rico and another in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The National Weather Service in New York City said Igor was likely to churn up breaking waves of 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) Monday while passing about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the eastern tip of Long Island. A high surf advisory was issued for the city through Tuesday morning.
Bermuda's power utility reported that roughly 19,500 customers lost electricity Sunday on the British territory of 68,000 inhabitants.
In Mangrove Bay at the island's western end, two sailboats were driven onto the shore, their masts leading against trees. A fishing vessel also ran aground nearby with a large hole in its side. The cruise ship ferry ran aground near the town of St. George.
But islanders said the impact did not compare with Hurricane Fabian, which killed four people when it hit Bermuda as a Category 3 hurricane in 2003.
"This was a powder puff compared to Fabian," Claude Wright, 67, said as he surveyed the damage.
Richard Simons, who rents out cottages near Elbow Beach, said he found only downed branches on his property Monday morning.
"It will just take some sweeping and raking to clean up," he said.
Officials said schools would be closed Monday and Tuesday, and a local newspaper canceled its Monday edition.
Also in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Julia was beginning to fizzle as it swirled about 1,100 (1,770 kilometers) west of the Azores with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph (75 kph).
Click here to see more Hurricane Igor photos.
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