Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alert - Central America - No 1/2000 Hurricanes Keith and Joyce Geneva, 2 October 2000
ACT member, Lutheran World Federation, Department of World Service (LWF/DWS) El Salvador reports that Central America, highly vulnerable to natural phenomenon, remains on alert due to heavy rains and floods provoked by tropical storms Keith and Joyce. The heavy rains that have affected El Salvador the last few days have caused the death of one person, destroyed several houses and resulted in the evacuation of 200 families to provisional shelters. The National Emergency Committee (COEN) has declared a Green Alert and forewarned the population that are living in the most vulnerable areas of the country. According to the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Honduras, torrential rains caused by Hurricane Keith have affected the northern and southern parts of the country and people living in high risk areas should be on alert and monitor the situation. The border between Honduras and Nicaragua on the Pan-American highway is closed because of the collapse of a provisional bridge built after Hurricane Mitch. The National Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER) in Nicaragua has forecast an increase of rains. The National Hurricane Center, USA reports that storm surge flooding of 6 - 8 feet above normal tide levels, along with large battering waves are likely to occur over parts of the alert areas. Heavy rains are currently affecting portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, Eastern Mexico, Belize and Honduras. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud-slides. LWF/DWS El Salvador is monitoring the situation and will keep the ACT Co-ordinating Office informed. Thank you for your attention. For further information please contact: ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Elsa Moreno (phone ++41 22 791 6420) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -