Hurricane Earl downgraded to category three

Hurricane Earl, a hurricane said to be packing winds of near 125 mph (200 kph) as it 'blows towards the coast of North Carolina. The Associated Press has reported that the storm has been downgraded to a 'category three' hurricane, and is becoming weaker each day.

It is reported that experts believe it will pass the outer banks of North Carolina tonight as a 'powerful storm'.

Administration officials say that residents and tourists of the area can no longer afford to wait and see what the forecast will be.

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Amazing flood rescue caught on tape (VIDEO)

An amateur cameraman captured this dramatic rescue in Columbia. Three women were amazingly pulled from the back of a taxi as flood waters rushed by. The incident happened in a city north of Bogota. Floods like these are common in the city.

The storm pulled down power-lines around the city, causing huge damage. The taxi driver involved in the incident had to be rescued downstream.

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Residents of flooded homes airlifted

It could be days, according to Fairfax Media, till families who had to flee rising floodwaters could return to assess the damage.

Residents from 22 homes were rescued, including around 12 by helicopter. According to Stuff.co.nz:

Summit rescue helicopter paramedic Johnny Mulheron described chaos in the region, with roads washed out by mud and logs, and said some isolated families would remain stranded for up to three days.

A family – parents and two children – living on the Motueka River near Tapawera had a flash-flood go through their house and had to scramble up a steep bank to a neighbour's home, where they were rescued by helicopter.

"They were school-aged kids ... they were fairly upset but not physically hurt," Mr Mulheron said.

The helicopter spent about four hours flying up and down rivers – close to breaching their banks in many areas – checking on houses which were now cut off by the floods.

Police and Civil Defense have said repeatedly that they are unaware when the families will be able to return home, and that they are merely serving their best interests in safety.

Read the full article.   

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