Hurricane Felix Pounds
Central America, Missing
Costa Rica
Central America has
begun to feel the
effects of the powerful
hurricane Felix that
this morning hit the
coast of Nicaragua as a
category 4, forcing the
evacuation of thousands
in Nicaragua, Honduras
and Belize.
Felix is headed on the
same devastating route
of Mitch that caused the
death of thousands in
1998 in Honduras.
Both Honduras and
Nicaragua are on "red"
alert.
The Comisión Nacional de
Prevención de Riesgos y
Atención de Emergencias
(CNE) has called for a
"yellow" alert in Costa
Rica and has set up some
200 shelters along the
the Pacific coast.
Although the hurricane
will not hit Costa Rica,
its indirect effects
have been felt since
yesterday afternoon,
soaking most of Costa
Rica.
Like Dean, Felix hit
category 5 on Sunday,
however, was reduced to
a 4 as wind speed
dropped.
The hurricane hit an
area of Nicaragua that
is sparsely populated.
Nicaraguan officials,
however, are on on
maximum alert as the
area includes an
indigenous population
and will little
resources to fend off
the hurricane's effect.
Guatemala and the
Mexican state of
Quintana Roo have also
issued alerts as they
keep a close eye on
Felix. |
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