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Tegucigalpa is confronting its worst water shortage on record as prolonged rainfall deficits have drained the city's two main reservoirs to critical levels, forcing authorities to tighten rationing.

Tegucigalpa faces a severe drought, with its two main reservoirs at critical levels (Los Laureles at 39.88% capacity, La Concepción at 35.19%), prompting authorities to tighten rationing for 1.6 million people and warning reserves could be exhausted by late August without significant rainfall.

Honduras's capital water utility sanctioned seven people for misusing potable water during an ongoing shortage, imposing fines up to 20,000 lempiras (about $800) for excessive use in homes and businesses.

Thousands of Eunica monima butterflies have swarmed Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras in an unusually intense annual migration that specialists link to climate shifts and accelerated breeding favored by heat waves followed by brief rains.

Plantatón HN handed out more than 3,500 free seedlings to residents of Tegucigalpa on Sunday, with plans to continue monthly distributions through November to boost reforestation and environmental awareness.

The Los Laureles and La Concepción reservoirs serving Tegucigalpa hold only 36.6% and 42.2% of their respective capacities, maintaining a high-risk water alert for the capital as authorities urge rational use.

UMAPS director Gustavo Boquín warned that if rains don't continue, Tegucigalpa's water supply—already at historic lows with some neighborhoods receiving service only once a week—could face severe shortages between late July and early August when the annual dry spell begins.