Hundreds Flee From Honduras Islands

A huge fire has destroyed houses and businesses on the Honduran Island, Guanaja, causing thousands of residents to abandon their homes and destruction of the tourism industry. The fire broke out before dawn, but residents struggled to bring it under control. Soon after, the Honduran Air Force dropped thousands of tons of water on the islands, however, many areas had already been destroyed beyond repair. There have been no fatalities, but 4 people were injured in the fire that destroyed 90 businesses and damaged another 120. 

The impact of the fire goes beyond simply the economy. Surrounding areas of Guanaja contain crucial parts of the coral reef, which acts as a home for thousands of species essential to the ecosystem and Earth’s natural services. Therefore, local ecosystems have faced extreme side effects, such as loss of habitat and the death of many species. If this continues, prices of certain goods will not only increase, but it will also be difficult for Guanaja to rebound and support it’s suffering industries.