Major fire in Honduran resort island of Guanaja forces evacuation

Monday, October 4, 2021

A major fire outbreak on the Honduran resort island of Guanaja has been brought under control by the local civic authorities and firefighters, after destroying dozens of homes and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. This fire outbreak causes massive damage to its tourism and travel business.

At least three people were injured in the blaze, which began in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.

It’s unclear how the fire started. Guanaja, with an area of just 19 sq km (7.3 sq miles), is one of the three Bay Islands of Honduras and its main income is from tourism.

The social media images showed that the rows of seaside houses engulfed in flames and wooden homes collapsing in Guanaja, a Caribbean island about 70 kilometres (44 miles) off the north coast of Honduras.

Honduran Air Force dropped water on the island to douse the fire but not before it had destroyed many homes. Footage taken after the inferno was brought under control showed dozens of concrete houses with no roofs and windows.

Max Gonzales, minister of the National System for Risk Management and National Contingencies (SINAGER) agency said that they can confirm that they have no human losses but vast material losses.

Four people were injured in the blaze, which destroyed 90 houses and damaged another 120, including some used as businesses, Gonzales said.

The fire broke out before dawn and residents struggled to bring it under control as the island does not have a fire-fighting service.

Guanaja is one of the country’s three picturesque Bay Islands, where snorkelers and divers come to see dolphins and a big coral reef.

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