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Central America braced for Felix Central America braced for Felix
(about 2 hours later)
Hurricane Felix has weakened to a category four storm as it churns through the Caribbean but could strengthen again, forecasters warn. Thousands of residents and tourists have been fleeing coastal areas in Central America as Hurricane Felix churns through the Caribbean.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the Honduras coastline, where the storm is expected to hit on Tuesday before raking Belize on Wednesday. It has weakened to a category four storm but is still packing winds of 230km/h (145mph) and is "extremely dangerous", warned forecasters.
Experts downgraded the storm from category five after its wind speeds dipped to 230km/h (145mph). The hurricane is expected to hit the northern border between Nicaragua and Honduras on Tuesday.
It comes just two weeks after Hurricane Dean killed 18 people in the region.It comes just two weeks after Hurricane Dean killed 18 people in the region.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said Felix had weakened but warned it could easily regain its strength. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said he was cutting short a visit to Panama, to lead emergency efforts.
The centre 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. Flood warning
Belize prepares The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami downgraded the storm but warned it should not be under-estimated.
View path of Hurricane Felix in more detailEnlarge Map "Felix has weakened but is still extremely dangerous and could re-strengthen," said the NHC.
It 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.
Meanwhile, there are concerns over Tropical Storm Henriette, which caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco that killed six people.Meanwhile, there are concerns over Tropical Storm Henriette, which caused landslides in the Mexican city of Acapulco that killed six people.
View path of Hurricane Felix in more detailEnlarge Map
Forecasters fear the storm could become a hurricane and threaten Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday.Forecasters fear the storm could become a hurricane and threaten Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday.
The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September. By 1800 GMT on Monday, Felix was 490km (305 miles) east of the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and moving westwards at 33km/h (21mph).
By 1800 GMT on Monday, Felix was 490 km (305 miles) east of the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and moving westwards at 33km/h (21mph). Despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye of the storm, says BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond.
But despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye, says BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond. Hundreds of tourists and Miskito Indians have been evacuated from the islands of Honduras, while Nicaragua was evacuating thousands more on its side of the border area.
Hundreds of tourists have been evacuated from the islands of Honduras ahead of the storm. In Belize, people were said to be stocking up on emergency supplies and boarding up windows.
But in Belize people are already 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, thousands of tourists and residents on Aruba and two of the Netherlands Antilles islands near Venezuela - Bonaire and Curacao - were forced to take shelter as Felix struck, 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.
There have been no casualties, but there are reports that one person is missing in Venezuela. The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to peak on 10 September.
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