‘Joan’ Aims at Central America

Hurricane Joan roared toward the coast of Central America today, threatening Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua after raking across the northern tip of Colombia and leaving at least 50 people dead or missing.

Generating sustained winds of 80 m.p.h. as it churned away from Colombia’s Guajira Peninsula, Joan veered onto a west-southwesterly path and was expected to strengthen over the warm waters of the southern Caribbean, forecasters said.