Tropical Storm Chantal
The Caribbean
OCHA Situation Report No. 4
21 August 2001


This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any
country.

1.  The National Weather Center in Miami reports that at 1200 GMT, 21
August 2001, the center of tropical storm Chantal was located near
latitude 18.4 north, longitude 88.8 west, or about 35 miles (55
km).west-southwest of Chetumal, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds are near
60 mph (95 km/hr) with higher gusts.

2.  At 1200 GMT, the following warnings/watches were in effect: Belize:
a hurricane watch from Belize City northward to the Mexican border and a
tropical storm warning for all of coastal Belize Mexico:  a tropical storm
warning for the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula from the Belize border
northward to Cancun, and for the gulf coast of the Yucatan peninsula from
Progreso to Carmen.

3.  According to news reports, some 2,500 people in the coastal regions of
Xcalat and Mahuahal were evacuated to temporary shelters in Chetumal, the
capital city of Quintana Roo State. Another municipality, Felipe Carrillo
Puerto, some 130 km northwest of Chetumal also required immediate
attention because of the passage of Chantal.

4.  According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, the
Government of Belize has activated its Emergency Operation Center and
issued Voluntary Evacuation Advisories for the 'Cayes' but is not planning
to evacuate Belize city at present time. Hospital has sent many patients
home as a precautionary measure.

5.  For further information, please refer to the website of the National
Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and
www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

6.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. F. Gentiloni / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka / Mr. K. Quiding
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3512 / 3131 / 4034 / 1769

Desk Officers (OCHA Response Coordination Branch):
  Mr. E. Haegglund / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99/1997

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 60
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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