Honduran Town Sinking Due to Rising Sea Levels
- Honduras, the second poorest country in Latin America, faces the severe impacts of climate change.
- The coastal city of Cedeño is already partially submerged by the rising waters of the Pacific Ocean.
- Devastating drought affects rural areas in Honduras.
Manuel Jesus Hernandez, a 54-year-old fisherman from Cedeño, Honduras, reminisces about his childhood home submerged beneath the Gulf of Fonseca. Standing by the calm waters, he points to the waves, recalling how he often leans over his boat, feeling a deep connection to the land that has been lost. The small town, once home to 5,000 residents, has faced devastating impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota in November 2020, leading to a significant food crisis and the flooding of five streets. The town's plight is underscored by a study from the Committee for the Defense and Development of the Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF), which reveals that the sea has advanced 105 meters since 2005. Hernandez expresses sorrow over the changes, standing near a crumbling cement tank that symbolizes the town's deteriorating infrastructure. The relentless encroachment of the sea has transformed Cedeño, making it unrecognizable to its former residents. Another local, who wishes to remain anonymous, shares her own heart-wrenching story of loss. After moving to the United States to save money and return to invest in her hometown, she now finds herself bedridden and lamenting that "everything I earned is underwater." The high tides that have historically flooded Cedeño have become a permanent threat since Hurricane Mitch in 1998, with the ocean steadily reclaiming the land year after year. As the community grapples with these challenges, the emotional toll of losing their homes and livelihoods weighs heavily on the residents of Cedeño, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to combat the rising waters and restore hope for the future.