Sara : A Tropical Storm that Leaves Scars in Central America
Sara leaves a trail of destruction in Central America, with more than 110,000 affected in Honduras, floods, landslides and severe damage in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and Belize.
Tropical storm Sara has left a trail of destruction in its path through Central America, severely affecting countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize and Panama. Although Sara was downgraded to a tropical depression in the last hours, the material and human damages are still incalculable.
Honduras, the most affected country
In Honduras, official figures are alarming: more than 110,000 people affected, 10,326 families affected, 2,534 houses destroyed and 209 communities cut off. The torrential rains overflowed major rivers, such as the Choluteca, which increased its flow by four meters, flooding neighborhoods in Tegucigalpa and closing key bridges in the capital.
The southern departments of Choluteca and Valle have been declared on red alert, as the Goascorán and Nacaóme rivers burst their banks, putting hundreds of communities at risk. In addition, damage to essential infrastructure is significant, with 20 aqueducts and 233 streets destroyed. Emergency teams are working against the clock to bring aid to the most affected areas, using drones and boats to overcome access limitations.
Regional impact
Sara’s impact extended beyond the Honduran borders.
- Costa Rica: The country reported four dead, four missing and more than 3,000 people evacuated. The rains caused landslides and floods that destroyed roads and homes, leaving communities isolated. Meanwhile, the government declared a state of emergency.
- Guatemala: The provinces of Petén, Izabal and Alta Verapaz were the most affected, with more than 11,000 people affected. Damage to bridges, roads and houses complicates recovery efforts.
- Belize: Although with no confirmed fatalities, severe rains have caused significant flooding, the closure of two bridges and the suspension of operations at Philip Goldson International Airport until further notice.
- Panama: Flooding of rivers in western areas left at least 11 dead, while several communities face difficulties due to landslides.
Sara : Future prospects and measures
Storm Sara, the eighteenth cyclone of the 2024 season in the Atlantic, has left important lessons for the region. Although weather conditions are beginning to improve, authorities warn that risks persist, especially due to rising river levels and saturated soils.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) urged governments in the region to maintain warnings as the rains could continue to cause catastrophic and potentially deadly flooding.
While the affected countries assess the damage and work on recovery, storm Sara leaves a painful warning about the need to strengthen preparedness for extreme natural phenomena in a context of climate change that is increasing in intensity and frequency.
Sensorial Sunsets
