Posted at 8:18 a.m., Monday, September 3, 2007
Felix weakens to Category 4 hurricane
Associated Press
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Hurricane Felix churned toward Central America on Monday, sending enormous waves crashing to shore as the Category 4 storm drew strength from the warm waters of the Caribbean. Tourists jammed the airports and locals stocked up on food and plywood.
With 145 mph winds, Felix headed west, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, which warned the "extremely dangerous" storm could strengthen before it reaches the Honduran coast on Tuesday and then slams into Belize, where many residents were still cleaning up from last month's Hurricane Dean.
"We are ready to face an eventual tragedy," said Douglas Fajardo, fire chief on the Caribbean resort island of Roatan.
Some 300 tourists were evacuated from Honduras' islands by midday Monday, and 400 others were awaiting flights, said Armando Funez, a spokesman for the country's National Airline Association. Winds and surf were picking up, with some waves crashing 15 feet higher than normal.
