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25/10/2005
Hurricane Wilma sweeps through Florida
Hurricane Wilma has left six people dead, tens of thousands of homes damaged and flooded, and millions of people without power as the huge hurricane swept across Florida leaving a swath of destruction.
Storm surges inundated many of the low-lying islands along the 150-mile long Florida Keys, and over nine inches of rain fell in many parts of the sunshine state.
Hurricane Wilma, which has moved on out into the Atlantic tracking north-eastwards off the Eastern seaboard of the US, as been upgraded to a Category 3 storm with winds over 125mph.
President Bush has declared Florida a major disaster area and authorised the release of federal funds to assist with the clear-up operation.
The hurricane battered Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, including the popular resort of Cancun, at the weekend. Eight people were reported to have been killed due to the storm, and Mexican authorities are trying to quell looting in the area.
The latest reports indicate that at least 17 people have died as a result of the storm in the Caribbean.
The Foreign Office said that there had been no reports of any British casualties as it deployed a 10-strong consular team in Mexico to assist the thousands of Britons caught up in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.
The team, which includes Foreign Office consular officials and staff from the British Red Cross and International SOS, will assist the team already in the Mexican resort of Cancun, including the British Ambassador to Mexico.
The Foreign Office said that the consular team would tour evacuation shelters to help British nationals, by providing immediate access to food, water and clothing and help to make flight arrangements to return home.
However, five days on thousands of tourists, around 8,000 believed to be British, remain stranded in deteriorating conditions following the storm.
A dedicated phone line has been set up for those concerned about relatives in the areas affected by Hurricane Wilma. The number is: 0207 008 0000.
In one of the worst ever years in recorded history for tropical storms, the latest tropical storm Alpha has killed eight people on Haiti.
US national forecasters have already used up all the 21 selected names for storms and will now name storms using the Greek alphabet.
(SP/KMcA)
Storm surges inundated many of the low-lying islands along the 150-mile long Florida Keys, and over nine inches of rain fell in many parts of the sunshine state.
Hurricane Wilma, which has moved on out into the Atlantic tracking north-eastwards off the Eastern seaboard of the US, as been upgraded to a Category 3 storm with winds over 125mph.
President Bush has declared Florida a major disaster area and authorised the release of federal funds to assist with the clear-up operation.
The hurricane battered Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, including the popular resort of Cancun, at the weekend. Eight people were reported to have been killed due to the storm, and Mexican authorities are trying to quell looting in the area.
The latest reports indicate that at least 17 people have died as a result of the storm in the Caribbean.
The Foreign Office said that there had been no reports of any British casualties as it deployed a 10-strong consular team in Mexico to assist the thousands of Britons caught up in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.
The team, which includes Foreign Office consular officials and staff from the British Red Cross and International SOS, will assist the team already in the Mexican resort of Cancun, including the British Ambassador to Mexico.
The Foreign Office said that the consular team would tour evacuation shelters to help British nationals, by providing immediate access to food, water and clothing and help to make flight arrangements to return home.
However, five days on thousands of tourists, around 8,000 believed to be British, remain stranded in deteriorating conditions following the storm.
A dedicated phone line has been set up for those concerned about relatives in the areas affected by Hurricane Wilma. The number is: 0207 008 0000.
In one of the worst ever years in recorded history for tropical storms, the latest tropical storm Alpha has killed eight people on Haiti.
US national forecasters have already used up all the 21 selected names for storms and will now name storms using the Greek alphabet.
(SP/KMcA)
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24 October 2005
Hurricane Wilma hits Florida
Hurricane Wilma hit Florida’s coast on Monday, after causing devastation in Mexico. The Category 3 storm has reportedly caused huge storm surges and up to 25cms of rain is believed to have fallen in parts of the Sunshine State. US news channels were reporting that one person had been killed due to the storm.
Hurricane Wilma hits Florida
Hurricane Wilma hit Florida’s coast on Monday, after causing devastation in Mexico. The Category 3 storm has reportedly caused huge storm surges and up to 25cms of rain is believed to have fallen in parts of the Sunshine State. US news channels were reporting that one person had been killed due to the storm.
22 September 2005
Mass evacuation in progress as Hurricane nears US
A mass evacuation is underway along parts of the Gulf coast of the US as Hurricane Rita is upgraded to a Category Five storm. Wind speeds of up to 175mph are forecast to hit the Texan coast as meteorologists track the course of the slowly advancing storm, one of the most intense ever to threaten the US.
Mass evacuation in progress as Hurricane nears US
A mass evacuation is underway along parts of the Gulf coast of the US as Hurricane Rita is upgraded to a Category Five storm. Wind speeds of up to 175mph are forecast to hit the Texan coast as meteorologists track the course of the slowly advancing storm, one of the most intense ever to threaten the US.
20 October 2005
Evacuation as hurricane approaches Mexican coast
Parts of the northern and western coasts of Mexico are being evacuated as coastal areas of the Yucatan peninsula are threatened by Hurricane Wilma.
Evacuation as hurricane approaches Mexican coast
Parts of the northern and western coasts of Mexico are being evacuated as coastal areas of the Yucatan peninsula are threatened by Hurricane Wilma.
23 September 2005
Bus blaze kills elderly passengers fleeing 'Rita'
As the mass evacuation from the encroaching hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico continued, a bus fire was reported to have killed at least 24 elderly people fleeing the area on Friday. The bus was destroyed in the blaze which caused a massive tailback on already congested main Interstate route just south of Dallas.
Bus blaze kills elderly passengers fleeing 'Rita'
As the mass evacuation from the encroaching hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico continued, a bus fire was reported to have killed at least 24 elderly people fleeing the area on Friday. The bus was destroyed in the blaze which caused a massive tailback on already congested main Interstate route just south of Dallas.
30 August 2011
FOC Advises Britons Trapped By Irene
The British Foreign Office has issued advice for any of its citizens trapped in the US Hurricane Irene. The east coast of America was ravaged in recent days by the Category 3 hurricane Irene, claiming over 40 lives and leaving many areas still without power.
FOC Advises Britons Trapped By Irene
The British Foreign Office has issued advice for any of its citizens trapped in the US Hurricane Irene. The east coast of America was ravaged in recent days by the Category 3 hurricane Irene, claiming over 40 lives and leaving many areas still without power.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost for some and some fog patches in places. Cloudier around the coast of Country Down where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
