Storm flood hits Americas coast

A storm surge driving in from the South Pacific has engulfed parts of the coastline of Central America, US-based meteorologists say. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said a Pacific storm had formed waves up to 4m (12ft) high. The high seas were hitting thousands of kilometres of coastline, from south-west Mexico to Panama. The Associated Press said at least 20 homes and a small hotel had been swept away in Guatemala and Nicaragua. "The sea took away eight rooms and part of the restaurant, which was made of wood," Brigido de Paz, manager of a hotel frequented by surfers in Sipacate, 100km (60 miles) south-east of Guatemala City, told AP. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5099878.stm