Air pollution in Honduran city is 50 times higher than guidelines

Many Honduran cities face pollution problems

Air quality in San Pedro Sula, the second-largest city in Honduras, is the most polluted on the American continent.

The air quality in the Central American city is so bad that it's almost 50 times higher that the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

The pollution is caused by forest fires and weather conditions, which have been made worse by El Niño and the climate crisis.

Authorities in Honduras have raised the threat level to its highest in most of the country, and have advised people to close windows and stay inside.

Several planes have had to be diverted to land in neighbouring countries due to the pollution

The air pollution has caused many problems in the city of San Pedro Sula, including:

• Schools having to temporarily close

• An increase in people visiting doctors with breathing problems

• And several planes have been unable to land and have been diverted to another country

Dr Cristobal Bustamante, the national director of the emergency medical unit of the Honduran Permanent Contingency Commission, said: "We have seen a steep increase in respiratory emergencies, especially within vulnerable populations."

Increased temperatures in Honduras have led to more forest fires

The air pollution is caused by spikes in temperature due to the El Niño phenomenon.

El Niño increases temperatures and decreases rainfall, which leads to droughts.

The dry climate and intense heat also lead to wildfires, which Honduras has experienced.

The contamination is also linked to the gradual effects of climate change.