Posted on Thu, Oct. 20, 2005
Latin, Caribbean countries on alert
Hurricane Wilma, the most intense storm to form in the Americas, lashed Caribbean coastlines on Wednesday as it lumbered toward Mexico's Cancún resort and Florida, leaving at least 12 dead.
• HAITI: At least 11 people drowned in southern Haiti as heavy rains associated with Wilma unleashed flash floods and some mudslides, according to the head of the civil protection agency, Maria Alta Jean-Baptiste. Most of the dead were reported in the Leogane area. Under sunny skies in Port-au-Prince Wednesday, the radio quoted government officials as saying that the chance of further risks from Wilma was not high.
• CUBA: The Granma newspaper reported 250,000 people were evacuated and classes were canceled in the western provinces. A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth. The central provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus are under a hurricane watch. At least 1,000 people were evacuated due to heavy rains in Granma province.
• HONDURAS: The provinces of Gracias a Dios and Colón were already being hit by heavy rain. No deaths had been reported, but several towns in the Mosquitia region are flooded and homes lost their roofs. Two Caribbean ports were closed. In the town of Santa Rosa de Aguán, where 300 people died when Hurricane Mitch struck in October 1998, the entire population was evacuated to safe ground.
• NICARAGUA: Mudslides in the Isabelia mountain range blocked the highway between the cities of Jinotega and Matagalpa at six places. Classes were suspended in Jinotega and all school buildings were designated as storm shelters. The coastal cities of Puerto Cabezas and Waspam and most of the Mosquito Coast was placed on alert.
• CAYMAN ISLANDS: Even as Wilma moved away from the islands, the government warned of continuing heavy showers, 9-12 foot waves along the south and west coasts and possible flooding in those areas. Grand Cayman was reporting steady winds of 25-35 mph, and the government predicted 4-6 inches of rain by the time the storm's effects end today. People were urged to to stay indoors unless it was absolutely essential to go out. All government offices were closed.
• JAMAICA: Heavy rains and thunder pummeled the entire island, and the government warned of further flooding and landslides. One man died in a rain-swollen river. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management reported that five shelters had been closed, although 350 people remained in others.
• MEXICO: The authorities in the state of Quintana Roo ordered the evacuation of about 33,000 tourists from the resort of Cancún at noon Wednesday. The MTV Video Music Awards Latin America ceremony, planned for today in Cancún, was postponed.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/12947410.htm
Latin, Caribbean countries on alert
Hurricane Wilma, the most intense storm to form in the Americas, lashed Caribbean coastlines on Wednesday as it lumbered toward Mexico's Cancún resort and Florida, leaving at least 12 dead.
• HAITI: At least 11 people drowned in southern Haiti as heavy rains associated with Wilma unleashed flash floods and some mudslides, according to the head of the civil protection agency, Maria Alta Jean-Baptiste. Most of the dead were reported in the Leogane area. Under sunny skies in Port-au-Prince Wednesday, the radio quoted government officials as saying that the chance of further risks from Wilma was not high.
• CUBA: The Granma newspaper reported 250,000 people were evacuated and classes were canceled in the western provinces. A hurricane warning was in effect for the provinces of Pinar del Río, Havana, Matanzas and the Isle of Youth. The central provinces of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus are under a hurricane watch. At least 1,000 people were evacuated due to heavy rains in Granma province.
• HONDURAS: The provinces of Gracias a Dios and Colón were already being hit by heavy rain. No deaths had been reported, but several towns in the Mosquitia region are flooded and homes lost their roofs. Two Caribbean ports were closed. In the town of Santa Rosa de Aguán, where 300 people died when Hurricane Mitch struck in October 1998, the entire population was evacuated to safe ground.
• NICARAGUA: Mudslides in the Isabelia mountain range blocked the highway between the cities of Jinotega and Matagalpa at six places. Classes were suspended in Jinotega and all school buildings were designated as storm shelters. The coastal cities of Puerto Cabezas and Waspam and most of the Mosquito Coast was placed on alert.
• CAYMAN ISLANDS: Even as Wilma moved away from the islands, the government warned of continuing heavy showers, 9-12 foot waves along the south and west coasts and possible flooding in those areas. Grand Cayman was reporting steady winds of 25-35 mph, and the government predicted 4-6 inches of rain by the time the storm's effects end today. People were urged to to stay indoors unless it was absolutely essential to go out. All government offices were closed.
• JAMAICA: Heavy rains and thunder pummeled the entire island, and the government warned of further flooding and landslides. One man died in a rain-swollen river. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management reported that five shelters had been closed, although 350 people remained in others.
• MEXICO: The authorities in the state of Quintana Roo ordered the evacuation of about 33,000 tourists from the resort of Cancún at noon Wednesday. The MTV Video Music Awards Latin America ceremony, planned for today in Cancún, was postponed.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/12947410.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment