Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Oil exploration by foreign companies in Honduras's La Mosquitia region has split Miskito communities, with one faction accepting a promised $400,000 annual payment for development while others claim they were deceived during the consultation process and fear damage to fishing resources.

Honduras has renewed environmental permits for petroleum exploration off the coast of La Mosquitia in Gracias a Dios, extending operations by High Power Petroleum Honduras across 17,628 square kilometers until April 2031, a decision that has divided local Miskito communities over environmental and development concerns.

Honduras's $750,000 cloud-seeding program, designed to combat drought, has finished its originally planned 20 flights and will carry out two additional missions using 180 liters of remaining silver iodide, for a total of 22 flights.

Tegucigalpa's two main reservoirs are projected to recover to 60% capacity (Los Laureles) and 40% (La Concepción) by the end of the rainy season, but officials warn rationing will continue through April 2027 to ensure supply during the dry months.

The government is beginning a three-month cloud-seeding operation using silver iodide to stimulate rainfall in agricultural and water-supply areas, with a Mexican company conducting up to 20 flights at a cost of roughly $600,000–$700,000.

Tegucigalpa's La Concepción reservoir stood at 25.49% capacity — just 0.49 percentage points above the critical threshold — while Los Laureles held 27.09%, as reserves continue to fall, water utility UMAPS officials warn.

Residents of the 21 de Febrero neighborhood report that La Soledad creek has become an illegal dumping ground, with dead animals, trash, and debris creating foul odors and sanitation hazards, and they are calling on authorities to clean the waterway.

The World Food Programme's regional director will visit Honduras this week to meet with President Asfura and assess the impact of an El Niño-driven drought affecting 103 municipalities, particularly in the Dry Corridor, where the government has declared a water emergency.

As severe drought depletes Tegucigalpa's reservoirs, about 30% of the capital's population lacking connection to the public water system are forced to buy water from unregulated tanker vendors at prices up to 50 times higher than piped rates, straining poor households.

The Agriculture Ministry is evaluating silver iodide cloud seeding with private companies and international partners to stimulate rainfall across drought-affected areas including the dry corridor and Tegucigalpa over the next two months.

The mayor of San Miguelito in Francisco Morazán reports that severe drought has destroyed all crops and forced farmers to sell cattle at half their normal price, with no rain since May and water sources running dry.

Trash and construction waste accumulating near the Los Laureles reservoir on the Guacerique River, which supplies water to Honduras's capital, are raising concerns about contamination if rains carry the debris into drainage and waterways.

Farmers in Honduras's drought-stricken Dry Corridor region are facing near-total crop failure after planting, growing, and harvesting corn and beans in arid conditions, leaving many to borrow money and buy cheaper grain to survive until the fall planting season.

The Liberal mayor of Piraera, Lempira, says a drought has left 3,500 families facing food insecurity after crop losses and is requesting corn and beans from the Honduran government, threatening to appeal to El Salvador's president if aid is denied.

The Choluteca River is flowing at dry-season levels despite Honduras being in its rainy season, suggesting insufficient rainfall in the mountains where its tributaries originate.

Low rainfall in Lepaterique's highlands has reduced water flowing into Los Laureles reservoir to 32.4% capacity, threatening Tegucigalpa's water supply as the Guacerique River—which feeds about 25% of the capital's demand—sees diminished flows.

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.

La Concepción reservoir, a key water source for Tegucigalpa, has fallen to 25.93% of capacity amid drought conditions, raising concerns about the city's water supply.

A severe drought in Reitoca, Francisco Morazán, has dried up local water sources, destroyed corn and bean crops, and forced the municipality to truck river water to communities; about 80% of the 8,000 residents depend on agricultural production and face food shortages and waterborne illness.