Cold Causes Deaths,
Damages in Central
America
Strong winds, low
temperatures and
persistent rain,
triggered by the first
cold front of 2008 in
Central America, caused
at least three deaths
and heavy damages so
far.
According to authorities
in the region, winds
ranged from 31 to 49
miles per hour in
Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua and
Panama, where trees,
billboards and the roofs
of several houses blew.
In El Salvador, the
National Civil
Protection System
reported one woman
killed and another six
people wounded, plus
3,000 houses damaged,
power cuts and coffee
plantations devastated.
Honduras also reported
two people killed in
Yoro and Atlantida
departments, as well as
several floods in El
Progreso, energy
problems in Lempira and
Intibuca, cut off
sectors, sheltered
families and other
problems.
Authorities from the
Permanent Committee for
Contingencies said that
rain generated by the
cold front accumulated,
reaching 80 mm in the
last 24 hours in Cortes,
Atlantida, Colon, Yoro,
Bay Islands and Olancho
departments.
The winds and rains
caused trees, antennas
and billboards to fall,
as well as several
collapses of houses, as
well as power cuts and
blockade of roads and
closure of airports of
Toncontin and Goloson
due to poor visibility.
In Costa Rica, 65
sectors were left
without electricity, and
constant rains caused
landslides in several
hills.
Though the storm impact
was lower on Nicaragua,
temperatures fell
considerably and several
small rivers in the
capital overflowed their
banks.
Panamanian officials
said maritime merchants
are worried because
waves reached nearly 16
feet and winds exceeded
43 mph.
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