Honduras: Floods - Jun 2025

On 17 June, 2025, the department of Ocotepeque began experiencing heavy rainfall caused by the interaction of a surface trough with Tropical Wave Erick, a hydrometeorological event that entered the country that same day. This combination triggered flooding, landslides, and the collapse of road, sanitation, and water catchment infrastructure, particularly affecting the municipalities of Sinuapa, Ocotepeque, Dolores Merendón, and Fraternidad. In response to the evolving situation, on 18 June, 2025, the State Secretariat for Risk and National Contingency Management (COPECO) issued an ocial bulletin declaring a Red Alert for the department of Ocotepeque and the banks of the Ulúa River in the municipality of El Progreso, department of Yoro (1). This measure was taken due to the intensification of rainfall associated with the system and the sudden rise in the Ulúa River’s water level, which caused levee breaches and flooding in vulnerable agricultural areas, including banana fields such as La Duarte, Campo Amapa, Naranjo Chico, Miraores, Las Cuchillas, and San Isidro. Additionally, a Yellow Alert was declared for the departments of Copán, Lempira, Intibucá, La Paz, Valle, and Choluteca, as well as lowlying areas in Cortés, Atlántida, and Colón. The rest of the western, central, and northern regions of the country were placed under Green Alert. The weather event was characterized by widespread rainfall, showers of varying intensity, and strong wind gusts, which increased the risk of flooding, landslides, sinkholes, and damage to critical infrastructure, especially in highly vulnerable areas. This phenomenon, multi-municipal and progressive in nature, caused cumulative impacts on infrastructure and living conditions, including isolated communities, disruption of basic services, and increased sanitary risk. (IFRC, 11 Jul 2025)