GUATEMALA: HURRICANE MITCH AFTERMATH: FLOODING

(3 Nov 1998) Spanish/Nat

With flood waters receding and communications improving, rescue teams in Central America struggled on Tuesday to reach thousands of people cut off by Hurricane Mitch.

The powerful storm has killed an estimated 7-thousand people across Central America.
Guatemala reported 157 deaths related to the storm.

The European Union and the U-S have pledged approximately 11.2 (m) million U-S dollars in aid to Central America.

It's estimated Hurricane Mitch has caused millions (m) of dollars U-S worth of damage to buildings and crops in Guatemala and killed at least 157 people.

Around 50-thousand people have been forced to flee their homes.

The deaths and the damage have taken Guatemalans by surprise and they're hoping for urgent help from the government.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Elena Carrillo, Resident
"We were already high up but yes, we were incredibly surprised because there were so many dead people - there were so many collapses buildings and so much damage. But we really wanted the president to help all the poor people because look - here we all are in this ravine where no-one can visit us. And until now it has been only you and a few others who have helped us move from here."
SUPER CAPTION: Elena Carrillo,Villager

Aid workers are continuing to search remote areas while in the capital, Guatemala City, thousands are wandering homeless and hungry.

Authorities expect the death toll to climb further as rescue teams reach more remote areas.

In addition to the deaths, President Alvaro Arzu reported Tuesday that 100-thousand homes had been damaged and 30 highways were blocked.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
We have evacuated at this point 46-thousand people approximately. Only in the city 2050 people have been evacuated."
SUPER CAPTION: Alvaro Arzu, President of Guatemala

The European Union, the U-S and Cuba have all responded with offers of aid money.

The funds will be used to provide basic care such as medicine, food, water sanitation and blankets to the thousands of people whose homes have been destroyed by torrential rains and mudslides.

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