TEGUCIGALPA (Sept. 24) XINHUA - The Honduran government Friday ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents of the north and center of the country because of the overflow of several rivers in those sectors.
The Contingences Permanent Committee (Copeco) ordered the controlled discharge of the Francisco Morazan hidroelectric plant reservoir in the center of the country.
The Copeco said that the water reservoir threatens to overflow after reaching its top capacity of 288.5 meters above sea level.
This situation has forced also the dislodgement of the residents of that sector to prevent the dangers of discharge.
The Electric Energy National Company of Honduras warned Friday morning that energy will be rationed because of the interruption of the central turbines during the discharge.
Honduras is being lashed by rains that have caused eight deaths, 4,675 victims, thousands of stranded people, the partial or total destruction of 650 houses, and flooded some 1,000 hectares of banana, sugarcane and basic grains.
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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 09/24/1999 16:16:45