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Central America braced for Felix Central America braced for Felix
(about 8 hours later)
Thousands of residents and tourists have been fleeing coastal areas in Central America as Hurricane Felix churns through the Caribbean.Thousands of residents and tourists have been fleeing coastal areas in Central America as Hurricane Felix churns through the Caribbean.
It has weakened to a category four storm but is still packing winds of 230km/h (145mph) and is "extremely dangerous", warned forecasters. It weakened to a category four storm but strengthened again, packing winds of 240km/h (150mph), and forecasters warn it is "extremely dangerous".
The hurricane is expected to hit the northern border between Nicaragua and Honduras on Tuesday. The hurricane is expected to hit the coast on the border between Nicaragua and Honduras in a few hours.
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.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said he was cutting short a visit to Panama, to lead emergency efforts. "There could be serious damage and material, like human, losses, if people do not take precautionary measures," said Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.
His Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega said he was cutting short a visit to Panama, to lead emergency efforts.
Flood warningFlood warning
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami downgraded the storm but warned it should not be under-estimated. Thousands of people on Aruba took shelter from the storm href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6970000/newsid_6977200?redirect=6977251.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Trail of destruction class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Animated guide: Hurricanes
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188851036/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188851036/html/1.stm', '1188851327', '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/americas_enl_1188851036/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/americas_enl_1188851036/html/1.stm', '1188851327', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=416,height=378,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Map "Felix has weakened but is still extremely dangerous and could re-strengthen," said the NHC. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami downgraded the storm but later said it was strengthening again.
"Some additional strengthening could occur while the centre of Felix remains over water ... and it is possible that Felix could reach category five status prior to making landfall in a few hours," 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.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.
Forecasters fear the storm could become a hurricane and threaten Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Tuesday. The storm is nearing hurricane strength and is currently 280km (175 miles) from Mexico's Baja California peninsula, which it is expected to hit on Tuesday afternoon.
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). At 0600 GMT on Tuesday, Felix was 165km (100 miles) east of the border between Nicaragua and Honduras and moving westwards at 28km/h (17mph).
Despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye of the storm, says BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond. It is expected to make landfall in a few hours.
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. Despite the hurricane being extremely powerful, winds are confined relatively close to the eye of the storm, says BBC meteorologist John Hammond.
View path of Hurricane Felix in more detailEnlarge Map
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.
A storm surge of six metres (18 feet) above normal levels would be highly dangerous for those living in the isolated coastal swamps.
"There's nowhere to go here," teacher Sodeida Rodriguez, 26, told the Associated Press news agency.
In Belize, people were said to be stocking up on emergency supplies and boarding up windows.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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Are you worried about Hurricane Felix? Are you in any of the countries in its path? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below:
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