In the Caribbean the rainy season ends in November, but last year was different. At the end of the month, the region was hit by the third tropical storm in a row, which was named Sara. The tropical storm was accompanied by heavy rains and winds with a speed of up to 80 km per hour. The situation resulted in floods with devastating consequences. Honduras became the most affected country.

The origin and consequences of the storm

The tropical storm Sara began to form in the second half of November, when a pressure system formed over the warm waters of the Caribbean and rapidly gained on strength. Within days, the system became a tropical cyclone, which moved towards the mainland of Central America, putting Honduras in the direct path of the storm. The country experienced strong winds and heavy rains. In some places, rainfall gains reached 500 mm. The western and northern regions of Honduras and areas along the Caribbean coast were hit particularly heavily.

The Honduran Commission for Unexpected Situations issued a report stating that more than 250,000 people were affected by the tropical storm. Damage was reported by seventeen of the eighteen regions, and almost a third of Honduras‘ municipalities reported property damage. Nine bridges were completely destroyed and dozens more were severely damaged. Estimated damages exceed $100 million.

The situation is slowly improving after a few weeks

The floods are gradually receding and our partners have written to us that the situation is better, although it is still sometimes complicated for them to reach directly the children they support. Some roads have been destroyed and communications blocked by mud. Despite the extensive damage, they are trying to meet with the children and provide them with timely assistance. Fortunately, we have not received any reports that anything has happened to the children or their family members and we are very happy that everyone is safe for now.

The current situation may mean that the deadlines for sending specific messages to donors will be postponed this year. The safety of children and of our local partners is one of the main priorities, so we would like to ask for your patience and understanding.

We are in regular contact with our colleagues and are ready to help them as needed. We are grateful that thanks to your support we can stand by their side and give them a helping hand. We are monitoring the situation regularly and will inform you of any updates.

Source: COPECO

Photos: AP Photo/Moisés Castillo