12 Apr 2018 | 01:58 AM UTC
Honduras: Forest fires persist nationwide April 11 /update 1
Numerous forest fires continue to rage across Honduras as of April 11; nearly 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) burned since January 1
Event
Forest fires continue to rage across Honduras as of Wednesday, April 11. At least 425 forest fires have been reported throughout the country since January 1, burning nearly 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) of land. The most affected areas include Puerto Lempira (Gracias a Dios department), Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela (Francisco Morazán department), Yoro (Yoro department), Campamento, and Dulce Nombre de Culmí (Olancho department). According to authorities, several of the fires are suspected to have been intentionally caused.
While flights from Tegucigalpa's Toncontín International Airport (TGU) appear to be operating normally as of Wednesday, flight disruptions are possible in the coming days and weeks due to fire-linked smog.
Context
In 2017, over 890 different fires burned a total of 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) of land in Honduras.
Advice
Individuals present in Honduras are advised to keep abreast of the situation and to adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities (e.g. potential evacuation orders). Passengers traveling via TGU are advised to confirm flight statuses due to potential delays.
