Honduras battles flooding as Tropical Storm Sara unleashes heavy rainfall

TELA, Honduras – Wading through waist-deep water, residents along the northern coast of Honduras on Nov 15 trudged through the streets carrying their belongings and pets, as heavy rains from Tropical Storm Sara caused widespread flooding across the area.

Sara churned menacingly near the Caribbean coast of Honduras, close to beach resorts and ancient Maya ruins popular with tourists, as the storm also took aim at neighbouring Belize and Guatemala.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) forecast between 38cm and 63cm of rain in northern Honduras over the next few days, with up to 89cm striking isolated areas.

Sara was located 56km south-west of Honduras’ Guanaja island.

This dangerous storm system will likely cause “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides”, according to the Miami-based hurricane centre.

Sara could also hit coffee production in Honduras, Central America’s top producer.

More than 1,000 Hondurans have sought refuge in shelters, according to officials, while the government declared a national emergency on the afternoon of Nov 15.

At a press conference, national head of risk management Jose Jorge Fortin urged locals to avoid flood-prone areas, among other precautions.

He noted that those living near riverbanks were especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

Sara is packing 80kmh winds, and the NHC estimates that “some slight strengthening is possible” over the next couple of days provided the storm stays offshore.

It will likely shift to the north-west, towards Belize, starting on Nov 17, according to meteorologist Victor Ortega.

After leaving Honduras, Sara is expected to dump between 13cm and 38cm of rain across parts of Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua and the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo, according to the NHC. REUTERS