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At this time, only one death has been reported. However, the Honduras earthquake collapsed homes in Honduras and Belize and was felt as far away as Guatemala City, and has the potential to end up being deadly, once all the information is in.
The sole Honduras earthquake reported so far was a 15-year-old boy who died when his house collapsed in La Lima 165 miles orth of the capital Tegucigalpa. Police has reported that several people were also injured in San Pedro Sula in the north.
Following the Honduras earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning in the Caribbean comprising Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and other Caribbean areas except for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The warning was later lifted.
In response to the earthquake, Honduras National Emergency Minister Melvin Hulse said on the radio:
"I urge you not to panic, but to remain calm. Your government is monitoring the situation and will be keeping you informed."
However, unlike an area such as California, where earthquake standards have generated earthquake-resistant buildings and housing, a majority of Honduras' homes are wooden, and prone to collapse in such a major temblor.
The USGS said a magnitude-4.8 aftershock struck off Honduras about three hours after the quake.
Posted May 28th, 2009 by Michael Santo
