Harvey storm lashes Central America

These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially over higher terrain, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said.Although weaker and downgraded from its former tropical storm status, Harvey still represented a weather event to reckon with, experts said.The eye of the storm made landfall in Belize near Dangriga on Saturday and moved farther inland and into northern Guatemala and eastern Mexico.On Sunday morning, it was barreling westward at a speed of 24 kilometers (15 miles) per hour, with maximum sustained winds near 55 kilometers (35 miles) per hour, the center said.Located about 65 kilometers (50 miles) eastsoutheast of Villahermosa, Mexico, the storm was forecast to continue moving inland.By the time it dissipates on Monday, Harvey was expected to produce total rain accumulations of eight to 15 centimeters (three to six inches) across Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, with up to 25 centimeters in isolated areas.In Belize and Guatemala, authorities warned people about the risks of heavy rains and a tropical wave along the Caribbean coast, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.The phenomenon did not cause loss of life or infrastructure damage, said a top emergency services official, Juan Jose Reyes.Stormy weather killed hundreds of people last year in Central America, a region highly vulnerable to weather disaster due to its rugged terrain and poor infrastructure.