The presence in Central America of the tropical storm “Sara” left heavy rains this Saturday (11/16/2024) that caused flooding in communities and farming areas in Honduras and Costa Rica, according to civil protection institutions.
The National Hurricane Center (CNH) of the United States specified that the storm is moving at a speed of 4 kilometers per hour (km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h towards the west “near the northern coast of Honduras.” ».
According to the CNH, “it will then move onto dry land in Belize,” where the Government is preparing with shelters for the possible onslaught of the storm.
“Sara” left 45,329 affected people in Honduras, of which more than a thousand have been affected or taken to shelters, according to the National Risk and Contingency Management Secretariat (Copeco).
Three people missing at sea in the department of Gracias a Dios, inhabited by Miskito indigenous people, were also rescued.
The Honduran president, Xiomara Castro, declared a “national emergency” on Friday, November 15 in the Council of Ministers to facilitate care for those affected.
Copeco declared four Caribbean departments (Bay Islands, Atlántida, Gracias a Dios and Colón) on red alert until noon on Saturday.
On the Caribbean coast of Honduras, the winds caused strong waves in La Ceiba, Puerto Cortés and the paradisiacal Bay Islands.
The downpours flooded the streets of the cities in the north of the country, especially in Roatán, the head of the Bay Islands, the port of La Ceiba – where part of a bridge fell – and Tocoa, on the mainland.
The Government suspended its in-person work and convened them virtually and closed the airports of Roatán, La Ceiba and Tegucigalpa.
In cities like San Pedro Sula, the second largest in the country, heavy downpours have been falling since November 14 and intermittent rains have been falling in the capital.
Alert in the rest of Central America
In Costa Rica, the tourist province of Guanacaste (northwest) is one of the most affected areas, with flooding of crops and homes, road closures and the closure of its local airport.
In southern Costa Rica, near the border with Panama, overflowing rivers left entire communities isolated. Three of the country’s main routes have been affected by landslides.
The entire Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where Guanacaste is located, is under red alert and the country has been in a state of emergency since Thursday, November 14.
Costa Rica reports more than 3,000 affected people who remain in shelters receiving humanitarian aid, reported the National Emergency Commission (CNE).
The entity indicated that this Saturday there are 47 shelters open where 3,057 people are located, the majority in the provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas, both on the Pacific coast, which have been the most affected by the indirect influence of tropical waves and tropical storms Rafael. and Sara.
The rains of the last two weeks, prior to the arrival of “Sara”, left three dead in Costa Rica, five missing and 2,106 people displaced to shelters. The government declared suspension of classes.
In Guatemala, the center of the town of Melchor de Mencos, in the north of the country, bordering Belize, was flooded, reported the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction.
The rains generated by the tropical storm “Sara” “cause the collapse of rainwater sources” some homes have been flooded so there are people sheltered by neighbors and relatives, according to civil protection.
In Nicaragua, the Government declared a “yellow alert throughout the territory.” The bad weather has caused the river flow to increase.
Panama was recovering from heavy rains in the season before “Sara”, which left at least 11 dead and $100 million in losses due to flooding and the collapse of infrastructure.
The storm affects El Salvador to a lesser extent, but civil defense authorities are alert to a possible increase in rain over the weekend.
Every year, the rainy season leaves dozens and even hundreds of deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure in Central America, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change.
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In what ways have community-based organizations in Central America played a role in disaster response and recovery following tropical storm “Sara”?
1. Could you please share your insights on the impact of tropical storm “Sara” in Central America, especially in Honduras and Costa Rica? How are the communities coping with the flooding and other consequences of the storm?
2. What measures have been taken by the governments of Honduras and Costa Rica to address the situation? Have they been effective? Are there any areas where more could have been done?
3. As the rainy season in Central America often causes damage and loss of life, do you see climate change as a significant factor in the severity of this year’s storm season? How can governments better prepare for these events in the future?
4. What challenges do indigenous communities face during natural disasters like these, and how can they be better supported by local and national governments?
5. How have the airports and transportation infrastructure been affected by the storm? Are there any long-term concerns about their resilience to extreme weather events?
6. How have local economies been affected by the storm, especially in areas where tourism is a major industry? Are there any steps being taken to support businesses and workers impacted by the disaster?
