EMERGENCIES

On May 29, Tropical Storm "Alma" - the first of the season - hit Nicaragua's Pacific Coast with torrential downpours and high winds. For several hours on Thursday, the storm was considered a category one hurricane, with winds of more than 100 km (60 miles) per hour. The entire country felt the effects of the storm, which left thousands of victims who took refuge in family members' homes and temporary shelters prepared by the government. Most of these affected are from the provinces of Chinandega, Leon, Managua, Masaya and Rivas.

At this time, official data are the following:

• 6,410 affected persons from 1,247 families
• 10 missing, three dead
• 1,284 houses affected: 17 destroyed, 222 flooded and 1,045 partially destroyed
• More than 100 electrical posts felled by winds, leaving Western region of Nicaragua without electrical power and potable water services today (May 30th).