2011 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Message for U.S. Citizens: San Pedro Airport Shooting
October 17, 2011
The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa informs U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Honduras that on October 14, 2011, in San Pedro Sula, masked gunmen purportedly dressed as police forced the occupants of certain vehicles exiting the parking area of La Mesa International Airport out of their vehicles and opened fire on them, killing six men and wounding three others.
October 17, 2011
The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa informs U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Honduras that on October 14, 2011, in San Pedro Sula, masked gunmen purportedly dressed as police forced the occupants of certain vehicles exiting the parking area of La Mesa International Airport out of their vehicles and opened fire on them, killing six men and wounding three others.
While no U.S. citizens have been reported among the deceased or injured, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa reminds U.S. citizens that violence in Honduras is endemic and the country has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The recent shootings indicate that this violence can occur in seemingly secure places like an international airport. We have not seen evidence suggesting criminals specifically target U.S. citizens; however, foreigners are often the victims of opportunistic crime. Additional information regarding crime in Honduras can be found at the State Department’s Country Specific Information for Honduras.
http://honduras.usembassy.gov/acs_pubannounc2011/message-for-u.s.-citizens-san-pedro-sula-airport-shooting-october-17-2011
2011 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Update on Weather Conditions in Honduras
October 19, 2011
October 19, 2011
The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa informs U.S. citizens residing in or visiting Honduras of continuing severe weather conditions throughout Central America. You should monitor local and international weather reports and follow the instructions of local emergency officials. According to the National Weather Service, strong rain showers and thunderstorms continue to affect the coastal waters of Belize and the Gulf of Honduras. An approaching cold front currently located in the Gulf of Mexico will likely bring additional rain to the north coast of Honduras in the next few days.
In addition to the Departments of Choluteca and Valle, Honduran President Porfirio Lobo Sosa declared a state of emergency for the following departments: Cortés, Comayagua, Francisco Morazán, Copán, El Paraíso, Colon, Intibucá, Olancho, La Paz and Yoro.
Recent heavy rains have damaged roads and bridges. Approximately 26 miles south of Tegucigalpa on the Pan American Highway (CA-1, Km 54, N1346054/W08718499), heavy rains caused both lanes to wash away into a steep ravine, leaving a gap approximately 20 meters wide. Light vehicles continue to use this roadway, although traffic is moving in one direction at a time along the inner shoulder. There are also mild to moderate landslides along other segments of the road.
Please note that 40 hours of additional rain are predicted for this area, and roadways are expected to continue to deteriorate. If driving overland on this roadway or others in Honduras, please exercise extreme caution, paying particular attention to:
• Cracking or damage to the roadway itself;
• Rockslides coming from the hillside above the road;
• Oncoming or passing traffic driving too fast or irresponsibly, given road conditions.
• Cracking or damage to the roadway itself;
• Rockslides coming from the hillside above the road;
• Oncoming or passing traffic driving too fast or irresponsibly, given road conditions.
At this point, the southern route to Choluteca in the vicinity of Moramulca is also not recommended for travel.
Flights into and out of airports in Central America may be suspended. Travelers should contact airlines for updates.
U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all times (e.g., U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. We also suggest that U.S. citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts.
http://honduras.usembassy.gov/acs_pubannounc2011/emergency-message-for-u.s.-citizens-update-on-weather-conditions-in-honduras-october-19-2011
