Three people, including a child, lost their lives after a lightning strike during a thunderstorm in northern Honduras this Tuesday. The incident was reported by the Fire Department of Honduras, the national emergency agency, as the storm swept through Yoro department.
Officials say the tragedy occurred in the municipality of Olanchito, a mountainous area where access for rescue crews is challenging during severe weather. The Fire Department noted that the bodies would be moved to a more reachable location for removal because the road toward the San Francisco community had been damaged and became impassable due to the storm’s impact.
The victims were identified as Nora Dalila Rodríguez González, Ledis Yorleny Hernández Ortiz, and a young boy named Mario Alejandro Figueroa Rodríguez. Preliminary information from authorities indicates they were inside their home when a lightning strike struck the residence, tragically ending their lives.
In response to the ongoing danger, the civil defense agency has issued repeated warnings for residents to stay indoors and avoid any work, travel, or outdoor activities in fields during heavy rain and electric storm conditions. Authorities underscored the need for vigilance and urged the public to take all recommended preventive measures to reduce the risk of more fatalities.
Honduras’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, part of the Risk Management and National Contingency Offices, has issued a green alertwide precaution across 14 of the country’s 18 departments as soil moisture remains high and rainfall persists. The National Center for Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Seismic Studies (Cenaos) reports that a convergence of winds and moisture from both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean will produce light to moderate rain and showers across much of the country over the next 48 hours. Officials note that these conditions will be accompanied by electric storms and that the heaviest rainfall will be concentrated in the western, central, eastern, and southern regions.
The anticipated precipitation is expected to raise water flow in streams and rivers originating in the west, central, and eastern parts of the country, raising the risk of flooding in several municipalities, particularly those near the Ulúa and Chamelecón rivers in the Valle de Sula. Authorities maintain constant vigilance in nearby communities and reiterate a call for preparedness to mitigate potential flood risks and associated hazards during this weather event.