Tropical Depression Sara Brings Destruction to Honduras, Heads Toward Belize

TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 17 — Tropical Depression Sara caused widespread devastation across Honduras this weekend, triggering heavy rainfall that led to at least one confirmed death, forced thousands to evacuate, and destroyed vital infrastructure. The storm, which made landfall on Friday, inundated homes, flooded bridges, and damaged highways, leaving many areas cut off by water.

Civil aviation authorities reported that both Tegucigalpa’s international airport and San Pedro Sula’s airport were temporarily shut down due to the severe weather.

Sara, which weakened to a Tropical Depression from a Tropical Storm, moved northwestward toward Belize on Sunday, where it made landfall. The storm’s impact continued to grow as it threatened the region with major flooding and swollen rivers.

As of Sunday, the storm’s center was located about 55 miles (88 km) west of Belize City, the country’s commercial hub. Belize’s government urged residents to hold religious services remotely and announced the suspension of schools on Monday in preparation for further adverse weather.

Despite its weakening status, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) cautioned that Sara’s slow movement would continue to cause heavy rainfall and potential flooding across Central America and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the storm as it progresses inland, with hopes that it will further weaken before causing additional damage.