FAST DOWNLOAD
Three of the people, including a 7-year-old child, drowned, while a 4-year-old child died when a wall collapsed due to heavy rains.
At least four people have died and thousands have been affected by heavy rains in Honduras, where authorities decided on Friday to maintain a yellow alert or surveillance for three of the 18 departments of the Central American country.
Two of the deaths were reported in the department of Choluteca, in southern Honduras, one of the regions hardest hit by the rains so far.
According to official statistics, at least 24,000 people have been affected, 5,244 are homeless, 721 have been evacuated and 75 communities have been isolated due to flooding or road damage. In addition, 593 homes have been damaged and 27 destroyed.
The mayor of the municipality of Concepción de María, in Choluteca, Yamileth Ordóñez, indicated that the high level of the rivers has destroyed several artisanal bridges, leaving 15,000 people isolated.
Other towns, such as El Corpus and El Triunfo, on the border with Nicaragua, have also suffered flooding and destruction of bridges, leaving thousands of people isolated.
“We have had flooding for four days, especially in El Cubulero (Alianza) and the flow continues to increase, we have families who have no way to buy food, they don’t eat, they are starving,” lamented Manzanares.
In the municipality of Apacilagua, Choluteca, the situation is similar. Its mayor, Carlos Martínez, said that the rains have affected more than 3,000 people.
“The main road that connects our municipality has been destroyed by overflowing rivers and ravines, which has left vehicles without access,” stressed Martinez, who said that they are investigating the death of a person who was allegedly swept away by a ravine.
The Honduran mayor said that more than a dozen communities do not have drinking water due to the collapse of the supply systems.
Many of the affected families remain sheltered in shelters, while others are staying with relatives or friends, according to relief agencies.
The Honduran authorities have maintained a 24-hour yellow alert in the departments of Valle, Choluteca and El Paraíso, as well as in several municipalities of Cortés, Yoro and Atlántida, due to the rising level of the Ulúa River, the largest river in the country.
The green alert, for prevention, is also maintained for ten departments of the Central American country.
According to the Center for Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Seismic Studies (CENAOS), a surface trough will continue to cause light to moderate rain and showers in much of the country, with isolated electrical activity. EFE
