Honduras declares red alert due to high air pollution

Honduras announced an indefinite “red alert” for seven of its 18 departments (states) on Tuesday, due to the high levels of air pollution that continue to affect the country with a dense layer of smoke.

A statement from the Secretariat of Risk Management and National Contingencies indicated that the departments on red alert, an emergency status  in areas such as Francisco Morazán and Comayagua (center), Yoro and Cortés (north), Atlántida and Colón (Caribbean), and Olancho (east).

“The high levels of atmospheric pollution and poor air quality continue and, according to indicators, we are at a dangerous level,” the Central American government announced.

The air quality index (AQI) in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, was today at a “harmful” level, with an average of 65 micrograms of PM 2.5 per cubic meter of air, the most harmful to health, as explained the note.

The Honduran institution indicated that the departments of Santa Bárbara and El Paraíso, west and east of the Central American country, remain on "yellow alert" - for prevention - and on "green alert" - for surveillance - for the Bay Islands (Caribbean). ), Gracias a Dios (east), Copán, Ocotepeque, Lempira and Intibucá (west), La Paz (center), Valle and Choluteca (south).

“At all three levels, monitoring of the phenomenon must continue, as well as preventive measures,” stressed the Secretariat, which “urgently” recommended that the authorities implement virtual classes and teleworking again in the departments under red alert.

Thousands of Honduran students returned to in-person classes on Monday due to a slight improvement in air quality, after the closure of educational centers the previous week.

The Secretariat of Risk Management and National Contingencies asked the Honduran Institute of Land Transportation to promote vehicle regulation measures and the Secretariat of Health to strengthen health centers with the necessary supplies to counteract the increase in respiratory diseases.

The agency asked Hondurans to continue wearing a mask outdoors, not do physical activities outdoors, hydrate and constantly wash their hands and faces. Polluted air is a combination of vehicle emissions, particles from forest fires, burning land for agriculture and construction dust, according to officials.