Strong waves hit Central America's Pacific coast

A South Pacific storm sent waves crashing into Central America thousands of miles across the ocean, destroying at least 20 homes and a small hotel in Nicaragua and Guatemala, civil defence authorities said today.

The Hurricane Centre in Miami said the waves were caused by a strong south Pacific storm that was sending up 10 to 12-foot swells across the Pacific.

Authorities ordered evacuations in Nicaragua as reports of high tides came in from Mexico and several Central American countries.