Honduras battles flooding as Tropical Storm Sara unleashes heavy rainfall

By Marvin Valladares

November 17, 2024 at 1:00:01 PM

A view shows the pier during the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

A motorcyclist navigates a flooded street after Tropical Storm Sara brought heavy rain and flooding, in La Ceiba, Honduras November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

People shelter in a gymnasium after Tropical Storm Sara brought heavy rain and flooding, in La Ceiba, Honduras November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

A man throws an object while standing on a section of a bridge destroyed during the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

People gather at the site of a partial bridge collapse after the Cangrejal River overflowed its banks due to heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

People wait in a shelter during the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

Houses along the Cangrejal River are flooded after the river overflowed its banks due to heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras November 15, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

A man throws an object while standing on a section of a bridge destroyed during the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

A man draws water from his boat as they navigate down a street in a community cut off by flooding in the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in El Marion, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Fritz Pinnow

La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

People wait in a shelter during the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in La Ceiba, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Esau Ocampo

People walk along streets flooded in a community cut off by flooding in the aftermath of tropical storm Sara, in El Marion, Honduras, November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Fritz Pinnow

By Marvin Valladares

TELA, Honduras (Reuters) - Wading through waist-deep water, residents along the northern coast of Honduras trudged through the streets on Friday 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 neighboring Belize and Guatemala.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast between 15 and 25 inches (38-63 cm) of rain in northern Honduras over the next few days, with up to 35 inches striking isolated areas.

Sara was located 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Honduras' Guanaja island.

That dangerous storm system will likely cause "life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides," according to the Miami-based center.

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

Over 1,000 Hondurans have sought refuge in shelters, according to officials, while the government declared a national emergency on Friday afternoon.

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 50 mph (80 kph) winds, and the NHC estimates that "some slight strengthening is possible" over the next couple days provided the storm stays offshore.

It will likely shift to the northwest, toward Belize, starting on Sunday, according to meteorologist Victor Ortega.

After leaving Honduras, Sara is expected to dump between 5-15 inches of rain across parts of Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua and the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo, according to the NHC.

(Reporting by Marvin Valladares and Gustavo Palencia in Honduras and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez in Mexico City; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Reuters

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