Torrential rain and floods in Honduras leave 16 dead, over 34 000 affected
Heavy rain since late September triggered destructive floods and landslides across Honduras, killing at least 16 people and affecting over 34 000, as October 22, 2025. National and local authorities declared states of emergency in the departments of Francisco Morazán, La Paz, Intibucá and Lempira, as well as in the capital district of Tegucigalpa.
Local operatives clearing flood debris in Honduras on October 22, 2025. Credit: Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras
Heavy mid-October rainfall triggered widespread floods and landslides across western and central Honduras. At least 16 fatalities have been reported and over 34 000 people affected by flooding since late September through mid-October.
Around 2 033 houses have been damaged, and 76 have been destroyed. Comisión Permanente de Contingencias (COPECO) reported that around 83 communities were cut off by landslides and flooded roads.
The worst hit regions include departments of Francisco Morazán, La Paz, Intibucá, and Lempira, while the Distrito Central (Tegucigalpa) was placed under a separate emergency declaration.
Rainfall totals from October 16 to 33 reached 75 to 200 mm (3 to 8 inches) in many western and central regions, with local anomalies exceeding 100 mm to more than 500 mm (4 to 20 inches) above normal over the past 30 days. The capital registered about 352 mm (13.9 inches) of rain in October.
The Distrito Central was also placed under a state of emergency after rivers overflowed and urban landslides damaged infrastructure. COPECO warned that saturated soils and unstable slopes continue to pose a risk of further collapses and flooding.
The severe weather was attributed to a slow-moving low-pressure system drawing moisture from the Pacific and Caribbean. Above-average precipitation is forecast to persist through late October, maintaining elevated flood and landslide risk across western Honduras.
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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