Storm strikes Nicaragua before losing its punch

Ten people were feared missing after trying to get away by boat. MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- Hurricane Beta swirled onto Nicaragua's central Caribbean coast Sunday, ripping off roofs, toppling trees and flooding low-lying neighborhoods before weakening to a tropical storm. Heavy rain in Honduras caused four rivers to overflow and damaged farm crops. No deaths or injuries were immediately reported, but officials said about 10 people were believed missing after trying to escape the storm by boat. Beta came ashore near the remote town of Sandy Bay Sirpi, 200 miles northeast of Managua, as a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. By midafternoon, it had weakened to a tropical storm with 65 mph winds as it moved inland, dumping up to 15 inches of rain. Beta was expected to continue losing strength and weaken to a tropical depression overnight. While powerful, Beta was a small storm, with its initial hurricane-force winds extending outward only about 15 miles, the hurricane center said. At 4 p.m. EST, it was about 65 miles northwest of the coastal town of Bluefields, moving toward the west at 7 mph. Took sudden turn Forecasters had predicted Saturday that the storm would hit the far northeastern region of Nicaragua, prompting officials to evacuate thousands of people from the port of Cabo de Gracias a Dios and along the River Coco, both on the Honduras border. But early Sunday, the record 13th hurricane of this year's Atlantic storm season took an unexpected turn south and headed for Nicaragua's central coast. Jack Howard, mayor of the central coastal town of Laguna de Perlas, told local television that 700 people were trapped in Tasbapauni, a town separated from the mainland by a lagoon. Nicaragua's army chief, Gen. Omar Halleslevens, told reporters in the capital that Beta had destroyed or damaged some houses, ripped off building roofs, knocked down trees and caused some flooding. He said it also damaged at least one pier. Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.