OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Hurricane Isidore - The Caribbean
23 September 2002


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

1. The National Weather Center in Miami reports that at 15:00 GMT today,
the center of hurricane Isidore - currently downgraded to tropical storm -
was located over land near latitude 20.1 north and longitude 89.5 west
about 55 miles/100 km south of Merida, Mexico. Maximum sustained winds
have decreased to 65 mph/100 km per hour.

2. A Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect along the Gulf coast of
Mexico from Cabo Catoche to Veracruz.

3. Cuba: According to information provided by the UN Resident
Coordinator's office, overflow of rivers, particularly the rivers
Cuyaguateje and San Juan, has flooded extensive areas. Initial estimates
report more than 8,500 homes affected, of which many have lost their roof.

4. Mexico: Isidore made land fall in the state of Quintana Roo during the
first hours of today. Very heavy rains are affecting the Yucatan peninsula
and other portions of eastern Mexico, northern portions of Guatemala and
Belize. Coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal tide
levels along with battering waves are being registered over the northwest
Yucatan peninsula. Some 70,000 people in low-lying villages were evacuated
to shelter.

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. E. Haegglund / Mr. R Mena / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 14 55 / 19 97

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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