Felix was barely clinging to hurricane status Tuesday, but the storm still posed a "major flood threat" and could dump as much as 2 feet of rain in some areas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Authorities in Nicaragua were waiting until Felix's wind and rain subsided before venturing out to see whether anyone was hurt or in need of help. There was concern the storm could be as destructive as Hurricane Mitch, which caused flooding and landslides that killed thousands in 1998 after it stalled over Central America. Earlier, Felix sent about 12,500 people looking for shelter after it came ashore in northeastern Nicaragua near the Honduran border.
Felix made landfall around 7:45 a.m. ET as a Category 5 storm with wind reaching 160 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm's powerful winds tore the roofs off buildings in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, damaging the town's hospital and airport. (CNN)
