Hurricane Earl hits Belize near its capital, prompting flooding fears

A hurricane packing 130 km/h winds and heavy rain made landfall in Central America near Belize's capital, where officials warned of likely flooding and damage to homes on Thursday.

Hurricane Earl swept in from the Caribbean to strike just south of Belize City, population 60,000, around midnight on Wednesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Along the way, it had gathered strength and dumped rain on northern Honduras as it brushed past at sea.