Honduras places 80% of country on El Nino drought alert

Honduras has placed 80% of the country under a drought alert, including the capital city, due to the impact of the strong El Nino weather pattern. This weather phenomenon warms surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, disrupting global winds, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall patterns, leading to warmer global temperatures. The government's emergency measures cover 234 out of 298 municipalities affected by low reservoir levels, crop losses, and livestock deaths, posing a threat to food security.

Cattle rancher Francisco Euceda reported that cattle have already died, and the remaining livestock are thin, highlighting the critical situation. Tegucigalpa, with its 1.7 million inhabitants, is among the 75 areas placed under the maximum red alert, indicating an extremely high risk. The Honduran President announced a series of emergency measures, including drilling new wells, constructing reservoirs, and delivering food to the most critical areas.

The crisis is expected to last until March or April of the following year. The UN World Food Programme warned that Central America would be the region most affected by hunger exacerbated by El Nino.