A British drive to raise money to help Central American victims of Hurricane Mitch raised the equivalent of $2.4 million in credit card pledges in one day.

Approximately 73,000 Britons made pledges on Tuesday, the first day of the drive. British aid agencies have raised a total of the equivalent of $8.3 million and expect to double that amount.

The Disasters Emergency Committee is coordinating British aid agencies' fundraising for Hurricane Mitch relief efforts. It said the one-day results were the best response ever to an appeal.

Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica sustained crippling damages from the storm, setting development back 50 years. Known deaths from Mitch number more than 11,000, and about five million survivors are thought to be in need of help. An estimated 1 million people were left homeless, and many of the area's bridges and roads are damaged.

Americans who want to help may donate to any of the groups on this list.