Note: Fact Sheet #7a replaces #7, which reported incorrect figures for dead and missing in Nicaragua

Background: Nearly two weeks ago Tropical Storm Mitch was upgraded to a hurricane that quickly developed into one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the Caribbean and Central America. At its height on October 26 and 27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180 mph and dumped heavy rains throughout Central America. Although

Background: Nearly two weeks ago Tropical Storm Mitch was upgraded to a hurricane that quickly developed into one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the Caribbean and Central America. At its height on October 26 and 27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180 mph and dumped heavy rains throughout Central America. Although the winds diminished as Mitch traveled inland over Honduras on October

POSOLTEGA, Nicaragua, Nov 3 (AFP) - Rescuers across Central America at sunrise Tuesday resumed searching for survivors of devastating floods and landslides that has reportedly killed some 7,000 people throughout the region.

Estimates of the death toll are at more than 5,000 in Honduras, some 1,450 in Nicaragua, 144 in El Salvador, 93 in Guatemala, seven in Costa Rica and one each in Panama and Mexico.

Authorities expect the figure to rise as more bodies are pulled from the rubble.

Roads, bridges,telephone and electricity

Background: Hurricane Mitch began as a tropical depression more than ten days ago. It quickly developed into one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Caribbean, dumping heavy rains all along the Central American coastline. The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm on October 30 and to a tropical depression on October 31. At its height on October 26 and 27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180 mph. As of early evening on November 1,

The Secretary-General wishes to express his deepest condolences to the families of the victims of Hurricane Mitch and to their governments. His heartfelt sympathy goes out to all those who have been touched by this disaster. The Secretary-General urges the international community to show the utmost generosity in the aftermath of the hurricane, which has left thousands dead and several hundred thousand suffering throughout Central America.

Background: Hurricane Mitch, which began as a tropical depression late last week, has been dumping heavy rains on Central America. Thus far, more than 260,000 coastal residents have been evacuated to inland shelters, and the storm has claimed at least 43 lives. At its height on October 26 and 27, the hurricane had sustained winds of 180 mph. It is now classified as a tropical storm, carrying maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and force winds that

The National Weather Center in Miami reported today that the center of Hurricane Mitch was located about 25

1. The National Weather Centre in Miami reports that at 0900 GMT on 28 October, the centre of hurricane Mitch was located near latitude 16.3 north, longitude 85.6 west or about 25 miles (40 km) north of the coast of Honduras. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 135 miles per hour (215 km per hour).

2. Hurricane warnings are in effect for the Caribbean coast of Honduras (and the Swan Island) and Guatemala, for Belize and

CANCUN, Mexico, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Hurricane Mitch, its winds down to 140 miles an hour (225 kms) held its position off Honduras early on Wednesday, with a western drift toward Mexico and Belize likely, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.

Hurricane-force winds and heavy rains of up to 20 inches (50 cm) from the sea-borne storm battered northern Honduras and caused evacuations from coastal cities in both Honduras and Belize, officials in both countries said.

At 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT), Mitch