Honduran officials said on Tuesday that they had preliminary reports that at least 6420 people were killed by the storm throughout the country, and 5,807 were missing. Some 600,000 are crowded into thousands of temporary shelters because their homes have been destroyed.
"This is the worst," said Delmer Urbizo,
the Minister of Government and Justice, who is overseeing the aid operation.
"This has no precedent in the history of the country, or even in the history of
Central America." 
But many officials here say they fear the worst is yet to come. Outbreaks of disease and food shortages are likely unless the roads and other installations can be repaired.
Ninety-three bridges are out along major highways, including 45 that are completely destroyed. All the major cities in Honduras are like islands, cut off from one another.