Tropical Storm Sara has brought devastating torrential rain to Honduras, isolating over 1,700 communities and causing widespread flooding throughout the country.
While officials have confirmed one death, more than 110,000 individuals have been affected by the storm’s impact.
Meteorologists anticipate that Sara will weaken on Monday as it moves into the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
The storm, which originated in the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, lingered over northern Honduras for four days, releasing up to 500 mm (19.7 inches) of rain and leading to swollen rivers.
According to Honduran emergency services, nine bridges have been washed away, with another 19 damaged. Many highways are now impassable due to landslides, complicating rescue efforts.
President Xiomara Castro issued warnings to residents near rivers on Thursday, urging them to evacuate to safer areas.
Thousands responded to her call for action. Rescue workers have been going door-to-door to assist those stranded, reporting over 2,500 homes damaged and more than 200 destroyed.
Sara is the 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and the third this month. Just weeks earlier, Hurricane Rafael caused a nationwide blackout in Cuba.
Experts point to high sea surface temperatures as a contributing factor to the intensity of these storms, with Kevin Trenberth from the National Center for Atmospheric Research highlighting that climate change is intensifying the risks and potential damage associated with such weather events.
