Situation Remains Critical in Honduras Due to Torrential Rains
Several days of torrential rains keep the situation in northeast Honduras critical, chiefly due to flooding rivers, the national broadcasting service reported Monday.

Sources quoted confirmed that hundreds of citizens from Guadalupe and Plan Grande lacked communication due to the flooding of the David River and 5,000 families in Sangrelaya and other locals were in similar straits because rivers have flooded entire towns.

The Permanent Contingencies Commission (COPECO) declared another red alert for the Atlantic Honduran coast, specifically for the departments of Gracias Dios, Colon and Atlantida, due to the intensification of rain.

Jose Ramon Salinas, COPECO head of operations, informed that the yellow alert had been declared for Islas de la Bahia, Cortes, and Yoro departments, and that local emergency committees had been reactivated in those regions.

The government stated that 23 tons of food, medicines and clothing had been sent by ship because there was no other way to access the isolated communities of La Misquita.

Last weekend the critical weather conditions hampered an attempt by the Army Forces to provide assistance to 1,500 indigenous at Rio Coco, on the frontier with Nicaragua.

Air Force Maj. Roger Salgado confirmed the isolation of the communities of Boca de Español, Boca de Yamales, Chilamate, Banco Grande, San Jose de Las Minas, Chiminca, Piu, San Andres de Boai, Villa Hermosa, Las Perlas de Urimac and Nueva Esperanza.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing an intense air and maritime search to rescue three sailors and two civilians whose vessel wrecked while distributing humanitarian aid.

One of the survivors, rescued Saturday, said that the others could be alive because they all had life jackets on when a big wave capsized the vessel and threw them into the sea.