The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Earl has made landfall near Belize City, Belize, with maximum sustained winds near 80 miles per hour (130 kph).
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The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Earl’s maximum sustained winds decreased to near 65 miles per hour (105 kph) with additional weakening expected as the storm moves farther inland.
In addition to winds, Earl is expected to produce a storm surge of up to 6 feet above normal along the coasts of Honduras, Belize and the eastern Yucatan and near and north of where the center comes onshore. The sustained rain could cause.
Earl is the first hurricane in the Caribbean since Sandy in 2012. Officials said a big wave capsized a lobster fishing boat in the Caribbean, but all but two of the 83 people on board were rescued. Authorities also rescued four families in the coastal city of Trujillo after a river flooded.
Earl nearing the coast of Belize. Schools and universities closed across Honduras’ Atlantic provinces as did two commercial airports.
Officials also ordered the global airport in Belize City to close and archaeological reserves and national parks were shut.
“We are encouraging people to move to high ground, seek shelter, stay away from the coastline”, DeFour said, noting heavy rain was already hitting the capital, Belmopan. While Earl is expected to weaken as it moves inland, it threatens neighboring Guatemala and southern Mexico with torrential rains. About 12 guests chose to remain, Ico said.
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A hurricane warning is in place from Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, south to the Belize-Guatemala border, as well as the Bay Islands in Honduras.
