Tropical Storm Beta

On 29 October 2005, regional authorities in the North Atlantic Region declared a state of emergency due to the imminent arrival of Tropical Storm Beta, which had become a Category Three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale (out of five), with winds of 185 kilometers per hour. Beta continued on its journey towards the south - Puerto Cabezas (Bilwi), after having veered from the route that it had been following towards Cabo Gracias a Dios in the extreme northeast of the RAAN. Hurricane Beta suddenly turned west-southwest on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, decreasing the threat to the city of Bilwi, capital of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN).

In the last hours of 30 October tropical storm Beta, which had been so erratic and unpredictable, finally diminished to a low pressure center, leaving massive damages to houses, crops, animals and the environment in its wake.

ACT member Christian Medical Action teams in the area report the following damages:

South Atlantic Autonomous Region - the mouth of the Río Grande de Matagalpa

The communities directly affected by the hurricane Beta are Sandy Bay, Walpa, Karawala, Kara, Makantaka, Kukra River, La Esperanza and la Barra del Río Grande, all in the area of the mouth of the Río Grande de Matagalpa.

Major damage include the destruction of 411 houses, four schools, three health centers, 22 latrines, one child feeding center, two water tanks, four churches and innumerable fallen trees. Some 3,408 people have been evacuated from the various communities and relocated to 24 temporary shelters. Seven people are reported missing.

North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN): At least seven communities of the Upper Coco River are reported to have suffered severe flooding. These communities are: Klisnak, Cocal, Naranjal, Tulimbila, Waspukta, Namanka, Poteka. In the community of Kukalaya, the river is at capacity and at least three communities (Karawas, Dos Bocas, Kukalaya Centro) report flooding of their crops.

There are also reports of flooding in the communities of the Lower Coco River. Specific information is not available due to the difficulties in accessing the more remote communities and the evaluation teams have not yet returned with the updated information.

A source in the Nicaragua Disaster Operations Center reported that the official figure for those evacuated totals 17,812 people (some 3,400 families).

Urgent needs: Currently, the basic needs for food have been covered, however, water, medicines, personal hygiene supplies such as soap and toilet paper, as well as plastic sheeting to be used as temporary shelter for those families not benefiting from the larger shelters are all urgently required.

ACT member Christian Medical Action is working in co-ordination with the Municipality of Waspam in providing food and care as well as helping people return to their homes.

The rains continue to fall in the areas of the North and South Atlantic exacerbating the flood situation.

ACT members in Nicaragua are assessing the situation and an appeal may be forthcoming.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).