The climate phenomenon known as El Niño is taking its toll on the Honduran capital, where water reserves are predicted to run out in six months if strict rationing measures are not taken immediately. By May 2010, “the city will be left without water if we don't start rationing and if we don't begin construction on another dam as an alternative way to store it,” Mayor Ricardo Álvarez told Tierramérica.

Tegucigalpa is home to more than one million people, and 300,000 will be affected by the rationing, which calls for water shut-offs for six to eight hours a day, twice a week.

The capital is supplied by two reservoirs that have seen their water levels drop sharply as a result of the drought.