Heavy rains and flooding caused by El Niņo continued in March all along the coastal provinces, reaching record precipitation levels in various parts and causing enormous damage to housing and infrastructure. In the highlands, irregular rains with historical high and low levels recorded in some areas, and freezing temperatures at night, have resulted in damage to crops. In the eastern areas, irregular rains are also reported, with extremely high and low levels of precipitation in different locations. Harvesting of the 1998 maize crop, the main cereal, has started and production is expected to decline from 1997 record, but final output will be largely determined by the intensity of the rains which are forecast to continue through May. Severe damage is reported to other crops, such as the important sugar cane crop, which has also been largely affected in its infrastructure. Substantial losses have been incurred to the significant foreign exchange earner banana crop. In total, about 300 000 hectares of crop land have been left uncultivated or damaged. The fishery sector, particularly the shrimp exporting industry, is also reported to have suffered immense losses. Diseases of various types are registered in many coastal locations principally as a consequence of poor sanitary conditions.