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Felix slams into Central America Felix slams into Central America
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane Felix hit Nicaragua's north coast as a category five storm, the highest level, but has weakened to a category three as it moves over land. Hurricane Felix has hit Nicaragua's north coast as a category five storm, the highest level, but weakened to a category two as it moved over land.
Despite losing strength, the storm is still battering coastal areas with winds of 120mph (195km/h), bringing with it the threat of major flooding. Winds of 160mph (260km/h) lashed coastal areas, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees and electricity lines.
Thousands have fled the area, but many indigenous people are said to be stranded on the Honduran border.Thousands have fled the area, but many indigenous people are said to be stranded on the Honduran border.
Felix is the second category five storm to hit the region in less than a month. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Henriette reached hurricane strength as it hit Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
There's a roaring when it pulls the roofs off the houses Lumberto CampbellPuerto Cabezas official Animated guide: Hurricanes Readers' hurricane updates
The Mexican government declared a state of emergency in the southern region popular with tourists, as the storm's top winds increased to 85mph (140km/h).
The category one hurricane was expected to cross Mexico's northern deserts before reaching the south-western US states late on Thursday.
Henriette caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco at the weekend that killed six people. One woman drowned in high surf in Cabo San Lucas on Monday.
Emergency efforts
Felix is the second category five storm to hit the region in less than a month. Two weeks ago, Hurricane Dean killed 18 people.
It is the first time two category five hurricanes have hit land in a season since 1886, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.It is the first time two category five hurricanes have hit land in a season since 1886, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
There's a roaring when it pulls the roofs off the houses Puerto Cabezas official, Lumberto Campbell href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1188911489/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1188911489/html/1.stm', '1188911531', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=378,left=312,top=100'); return false;">View path of Hurricane Felix in more detail href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1188911489/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_enl_1188911489/html/1.stm', '1188911531', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=378,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm could dump up to 30cm (12in) of rain in isolated parts of northern Honduras and north-eastern Nicaragua, possibly bringing flash floods and mudslides. There have been no reports of any fatalities from Felix.
Second hurricane However, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm could dump up to 64cm (25in) of rain in isolated parts of northern Honduras and north-eastern Nicaragua, possibly bringing flash floods and mudslides.
At 1500 GMT on Tuesday, the eye of the hurricane was located about 40 miles (65km) west of Puerto Cabezas, moving inland at 15mph (23km/h), the NHC reported. A local official in Puerto Cabezas, Lumberto Campbell, who gave an interview to local radio station Radio Ya, described the storm.
The Associated Press news agency quoted a local official in Puerto Cabezas, Lumberto Campbell, who gave an interview to local radio station Radio Ya describing the effect as the hurricane hit. "The wind is terrible. There's a roaring when it pulls the roofs off the houses," Mr Campbell was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.
View path of Hurricane Felix in more detailEnlarge Map "The wind is terrible. There's a roaring when it pulls the roofs off the houses," Mr Campbell was quoted as saying.
"There's no electricity because all the posts that hold up the cables have fallen down."There's no electricity because all the posts that hold up the cables have fallen down.
"The metal roofs come off like shaving knives and are sent flying against the trees and homes," he said before the telephone line went dead."The metal roofs come off like shaving knives and are sent flying against the trees and homes," he said before the telephone line went dead.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Henriette has reached hurricane strength as it heads for Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
It caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco at the weekend that killed six people.
The storm is currently 185km (115 miles) south-east the peninsula and is expected to hit on Tuesday afternoon.
Flooding fearsFlooding fears
Hurricane Felix developed in the Caribbean just two weeks after Hurricane Dean killed 18 people in the region.
Thousands of people on Aruba took shelter from the storm Trail of destruction Animated guide: Hurricanes Readers' hurricane updates Preparing for Hurricane Felix
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has decided to cut short a visit to Panama to lead emergency efforts.Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has decided to cut short a visit to Panama to lead emergency efforts.
Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated from the islands of Honduras, while both Honduras and Nicaragua have been evacuating Miskito Indians who live along the coast on either side of the border. MISKITO INDIANS Indigenous people of Central AmericaLive in lowlands along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, also in Honduras, BelizeOverall population estimated at 150,000 Culture influenced by contact with Europeans since mid-17th Century, inter-marriage with escaped Africans slaves Communities extremely poor, mainly subsistence agriculture Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated from the islands of Honduras, while both Honduras and Nicaragua have been evacuating Miskito Indians who live along the coast on either side of the border.
But there are reports of transport shortages, and many of the indigenous population are thought to be stranded.But there are reports of transport shortages, and many of the indigenous population are thought to be stranded.
A storm surge of six metres (18 feet) above normal levels would be highly dangerous for those living in the isolated coastal swamps. A storm surge of six metres (18ft) above normal levels would be highly dangerous for those living in the isolated coastal swamps.
MISKITO INDIANS Indigenous people of Central AmericaLive in lowlands along Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, also in Honduras, BelizeOverall population estimated at 150,000 Culture influenced by contact with Europeans since mid-17th Century, inter-marriage with escaped Africans slaves Communities extremely poor, mainly subsistence agriculture
"There's nowhere to go here," teacher Sodeida Rodriguez, 26, told AP news agency.
In Belize, people were said to be stocking up on emergency supplies and boarding up windows.
On Sunday, Felix struck Aruba and two of the Netherlands Antilles islands near Venezuela - Bonaire and Curacao - but damage appeared slight.On Sunday, Felix struck Aruba and two of the Netherlands Antilles islands near Venezuela - Bonaire and Curacao - but damage appeared slight.
The sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Felix demolished a concert venue when it hit Grenada on Saturday.The sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Felix demolished a concert venue when it hit Grenada on Saturday.
The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September.The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September.
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