Thousands of residents and tourists fled low-lying coastal parts of Belize yesterday as Hurricane Iris, the year's most powerful Atlantic storm, made landfall with 225km/h winds.
Iris touched down at night about 130km southwest of Belize City, in the small coastal towns of Independence and Placencia. Dozens of homes weredestroyed, the local radio said.
The United States National Hurricane Centre in Miami said the hurricane, moving westward at about 35km/h, was expected to weaken rapidly as it passed over mountainous areas of Belize and Guatemala.
Iris had gained force after brushing past Jamaica with 137km/h winds that toppled trees and tore off roofs.
Previously it killed a mother and her two young daughters in the Dominican Republic.
