Honduras places 80% of country on El Nino drought alert

On Wednesday, the Honduran government placed 80 percent of the country, including its capital Tegucigalpa, on drought alert due to the impact of the El Nino weather pattern. This weather phenomenon warms surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, leading to changes in global wind patterns, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall, which in turn causes warmer global temperatures.

This year's El Nino is forecasted to be one of the strongest on record, posing significant threats to the country's food security. Over 234 municipalities, responsible for various reservoir levels, crop losses, and livestock deaths, have been affected. Cattle rancher Francisco Euceda stated that many of his cattle have already died, and those that remain are emaciated, highlighting the critical situation.

The capital city, Tegucigalpa, with a population of 1.7 million, is among the 75 areas placed under red alert, indicating the maximum risk. The Central American Dry Corridor, an arid strip of land spanning parts of Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Honduran President Nasry Asfura announced a series of emergency measures, such as drilling new wells, constructing new reservoirs, and delivering food to the most critical areas. The situation is expected to persist until March or April of the following year.

The United Nations World Food Programme has estimated that Central America is the region most severely affected by hunger exacerbated by El Nino, with some 110 million people experiencing their hottest July on record from Mexico to northern Brazil, including the Pacific coast and the Guiana Shield on the north coast of South America.

El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras all broke their monthly temperature records in both June and July, further intensifying concerns about impending famine. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that El Nino is "adding fuel to a planet already on fire" and pushing the world into "uncharted territory." Peru recently declared a state of emergency in a third of its cities due to El Nino, warning of intense heat and rain impacting food production.

Indonesia has also been affected by El Nino, with its worsening drought contributing to one of the worst wildfire seasons in years.