Olancho News

The leader of the Liberal Party's congressional caucus, Jorge Cálix, says he will demand government explanations for the halted construction of the Salamá hospital and plans to mobilize Liberal lawmakers from affected departments to push for completion.

Satellite monitoring shows Olancho has lost roughly 500,000 hectares of forest cover between 2001 and 2025—about one-third of Honduras's total loss—with permanent agriculture, not wildfires, identified as the primary driver.

The Public Ministry formally charged prosecutor Bayron Ibrán Valle Ardón with aggravated violence against a woman, extortion, and illegal entry for allegedly using his office to enter his ex-partner's home without a warrant in Catacamas on April 25, 2025, and demand 6,000 lempiras to avoid her arrest.

An infectious-disease specialist warns that some Honduran dengue diagnoses may actually be rickettsiosis, citing a confirmed Olancho case where a patient with fever, seizures, and delirium tested positive for rickettsia Typhi.

Honduras's transportation ministry is bidding public contracts to pave 29 km of Route RN-119 between Guayambre Bridge and Palestina, and to upgrade 6 km with concrete between Patuca and Nueva Choluteca, aiming to improve mobility and commerce in the agricultural and ranching zones of Olancho.

ENEE is scheduling power cuts from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00–5:30 p.m. on October 15 in Olancho and Colón departments for routine maintenance work affecting dozens of villages and neighborhoods.

Walter Henríquez, a migrant from Olancho, was killed in a knife attack in Barcelona early on October 13, allegedly over 50 euros; police opened an investigation into the robbery-related homicide.

A white pickup truck driven by engineer Wilmer Moya collided head-on with heavy equipment on the road to Dulce Nombre de Culmí in Olancho early Sunday, killing Moya and leaving another person gravely injured.

The state electric utility ENEE will cut power to Patuca and surrounding communities in Olancho department on Saturday, October 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for scheduled maintenance work.

The hospital in Salamá, Olancho, started under the Castro administration, has sat abandoned since March, leaving residents from over 14 municipalities traveling hours for medical care with no set date to resume work.

Honduras's armed forces destroyed illegal coca and marijuana plantations in Olancho and Colón, seizing approximately 22,000 coca plants across four acres in Dulce Nombre de Culmí and 7,000 marijuana plants on two acres near Tocoa as part of nationwide drug-trafficking operations.

Infrastructure officials and local leaders kicked off construction on about 18 kilometers of new paving toward Salamá in northern Olancho, with a companion 18.3-kilometer Limones–Puente Quebrada Ulúa segment also breaking ground the same day.

An armored truck carrying cash to banks overturned in Santa María del Real, Olancho, after the driver swerved to avoid a motorcyclist and lost control.

Small business owners in three Olancho municipalities are protesting the possible opening of Chinese-owned retail stores, saying they cannot compete and fear loss of sales and income.

A congressman from Olancho has proposed establishing a tourism information and welcome center in Campamento to promote the department's cultural, natural, and economic attractions and boost local employment and entrepreneurship.

A congressman from Olancho introduced a proposal to permanently allocate 2 million lempiras (about $80,000) across four schools and rehabilitation centers serving people with disabilities in the department.

Sara Romero was killed in the Las Tablas community in Catacamas, Olancho, after men removed her from her home where she was with her children; authorities are investigating.

Nurses at Hospital Aníbal Murillo Escobar in Olanchito have begun informational assemblies over the firing of a colleague named Damaris, who was employed under contract since 2024; union leaders warn that protests may escalate if the Health Ministry does not explain or reverse the dismissal.

Olancho FC has appointed Argentine coach Mauro De Giobbi to replace Wilson Molina, marking De Giobbi's return to the club where he previously managed during the 2023 Apertura season.

A gun battle in the Olancho municipality of Guayape killed at least three people and wounded three adults and a child, who were rushed to a medical center in the capital as authorities investigate.

A suspension bridge connecting remote communities in Guata and Esquipulas del Norte, Olancho, collapsed during its opening ceremony; the mayors of both municipalities are seeking government aid to rebuild the structure that serves over 2,000 residents and links them to health services and supplies.

Police in Concordia, Olancho arrested a man accused of sexually abusing his 18-month-old stepdaughter after the child's mother reported the assault; he attempted to poison himself as officers arrived at his home.

A proposal by National Congress member Carlos Cano would create a pilot program to protect Olancho's forests and water resources while generating up to 345 forestry jobs through fire prevention, forest management, and restoration work, funded by a planned L168 million (about $6.7 million) budget from multiple sources.

Brayan Omar Sánchez, a Honduran from Olancho deported to an African country by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite having an active asylum case pending judicial review, posted videos documenting severe poverty and sanitation conditions where he says he now lives.

Two children found a pistol in the Rioblanco sector of Catacamas, Olancho, while walking home from school; the 10-year-old accidentally fired it, fatally shooting his 8-year-old brother.

A private-practice physician in Olancho who treated 320 patients in the first eight months of 2026 reports that depression (28%), bipolar disorder (24%), and anxiety (15%) dominate his diagnoses, calling for greater openness about seeking psychiatric care.

Three women were hospitalized in Mina de Oro, Olancho, after being attacked with bladed and firearms on August 18; police are investigating the incident and the women's identities and conditions.

Internal documents from the agricultural development bank Banadesa reveal a July 2026 credit committee meeting convened for only three loan applications totaling L31.7 million (about $1.27 million), including L7.8 million (about $312,000) to a man with political and family ties to the bank's president.

Olancho FC defeated Juticalpa 1–0 in the Olancho regional derby on August 16, with Machuca Ramírez scoring the decisive goal after Juticalpa's Maylor Núñez was sent off for a foul in the 45th minute.

The state power company ENEE scheduled outages across Olancho department on October 1, mainly from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., affecting numerous towns and neighborhoods as part of planned electrical-system maintenance.