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Hurricane Keith - Belize-Nicaragua-Cuba - Tropical Depression Joyce - The Caribbean OCHA Situation Report No. 3

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Belize
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OCHA
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Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0184
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Hurricane "Keith"- Belize-Nicaragua-Cuba
Tropical Depression "Joyce" - The Caribbean
2 October 2000

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

Hurricane "Keith"
2 October 2000 - 1200 hrs GMT
Tropical Depression "Joyce"
2 October 2000 - 0900 hrs GMT

Ø Latitude 17.7 north and longitude 87.8 west (about 35 miles/55 km east northeast of Belize City)

Ø A hurricane warning remains in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, from Cabo Catoche southward to Monkey River Town. A hurricane watch remains in effect for the north coast of Yucatan from west of Cabo Catoche to Progreso

Ø Hurricane "Keith" is nearly stationary. Maximum sustained winds are near 90-mph/140 km/hr with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Ø Latitude 12.0 north and longitude 67.5 west (about 55 miles/90 km east of Bonaire)


Ø Tropical Depression "Joyce" moving towards the west northwest at 15 mph/24km/hr.

Ø Maximum sustained winds near 35-mph/55 km/hr with higher gusts.


Source: The National Weather Centre in Miami. For further information and updates on Hurricane "Keith" and Tropical depression "Joyce" , please refer to the National Hurricane Centre (USA) at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

Impact of Hurricane "Keith"

Belize

Situation

1. Hurricane force / near hurricane force winds are affecting in particular the northern part of Belize: the Island of San Pedro (population about 5,000) and the town of Corozal and its surrounding areas, on the northwestern border with Yucatan Peninsula (population of the district about 31,000).

2. Evacuation underway in the northern part of the country. The population of Belize City was also advised to evacuate to the capital city Belmopan (Prime Ministers' Address to the nation of 1 October 2000).

3. Rivers are rising in the western part of Belize, and the threat of flooding along riverbanks is real. Several ferries and a bridge have been closed. Farmers have been advised to move livestock to higher ground.

4. In San Pedro and Belize City, preliminary reports indicate roofs blown off, and utility poles down.

National Response

5. No national state of emergency has yet been declared. The international airport has been closed and flights have been suspended.

6. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) is coordinating preparedness and response operations at national, regional and local levels.

7. NEMO's reports can be accessed on the internet at: http://www.nemo.org.bz

Request for international assistance

8. No request for international assistance has been issued by the Government of Belize so far.

UN system response

9. As of 1 October, the UN Emergency Operations Center (UNEOC) was activated under the chairmanship of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Representative in Belize. PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, the United Nations Volunteers, together with the representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Belize are coordinating their actions and have reviewed their present response capacity. The UNEOC is in direct contact with NEMO.

Nicaragua

10. According to the UN Resident Coordinator in Managua, following reports from the Nicaraguan Civil Defence, heavy to moderate rains continue to fall in Nicaragua as a result of Hurricane "Keith". Some 600 persons have been evacuated. Disaster response, prevention and mitigation entities are on alert, and assessment missions are being carried out in the most affected areas.

Cuba

11.The United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office reports that Cuba's westernmost Province of Pinar del Río remains on a hurricane watch status. The storm has brought intermittent rain over several areas of Cuba, but the amount of rainfall has been so far negligible.

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

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 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. C. Monteiro-Pereira / Ms. M. KondoDirect Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 13 83 / 19 97

Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.