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Mexico

Alert Mexico Hurricane Pauline

ALERT
Mexico - Hurricane Pauline

Geneva, 11 October 1997

Dear Friends,

The deadliest and most severe hurricane since 1959 pounded Mexico's southwestern Pacific coast on Friday with winds over 160 kilometres per hour and torrential rains. Although exact figures are not yet available, the Mexican Red Cross reports over 400 deaths and 50,000 people left homeless in the aftermath of the Hurricane Pauline. The death toll is expected to rise as many bodies were presumed to have washed out to sea.

Hurricane Pauline hit the coastal areas of Oaxaca and Chiapas states, as well as the city of Acapulco and surrounding areas. In Acapulco, 1 million residents have no drinking water, telephones or electricity and the streets are filled with mud. The hurricane devastated areas are among Mexico's most impoverished regions.

ACT members, Church World Service (ACT/CWS) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (ACT/UMCOR) have provided alert information concerning the hurricane emergency. They are working with their church partners, regional and local offices to complete a rapid assessment of needs for victims of the hurricane. Further information should be available by Monday, 13 October.

Pending receipt of this information from CWS and UMCOR, this alert may or may not be followed by an ACT appeal for Hurricane Pauline.

For further information, please contact the ACT Co-ordinating Office.

Regards.

ACT Web Site address: http://www.wcc-coe.org/act/

Ecumenical Centre, 150 route de Ferney , P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Phone: ++41 22 791 6033 Fax: ++41 22 791 6506 E-mail: act@wcc-coe.org Telex: 415 730 OIK CH