Hundreds flee as fire ravages Honduras island of Guanaja

People flee by boat after a huge fire devastated homes and businesses on Caribbean island.

A huge fire has destroyed or damaged scores of houses and businesses on a Honduran island of Guanaja and forced hundreds of residents to flee for safety.

Dramatic video footage shared on social media on Saturday showed rows of seaside houses engulfed in flames and wooden homes collapsing in the Caribbean island, which is about 70 kilometres (44 miles) off the north coast of Honduras.

At least 400 people fled the island by boat to save themselves from the fire, the El Heraldo news website reported, as the Honduran Air Force dropped water on the island to douse the flames.