Hurricane Mitch
26th October 1998 - one of the most devastating hurricanes of recent times seen here approaching the coast of Honduras and graded as a Category 5 'catastrophic' hurricane.

Hurricane Mitch left over 10,000 people dead in Honduras and Nicaragua, and is likely to be classified amongst the four strongest hurricanes this century.

Severe Weather

Severe weather leaves devastating effects - death and destruction. March 20th 1998 - 12 people killed when an unforecast tornado touched down at Gainesville, Georgia. On May 27th 1997, 27 people died when a devastating F5 tornado ripped through the small town of Jarrell, Texas, USA. On May 13th 1996, between 500 and 1000 people were left dead when massive thunderstorms tore through western Bangladesh. More than 30,000 were injured and 100,000 people were left homeless. Hurricane Andrew (1992) caused damage in the Gulf of Mexico estimated at $0.5 billion. Ocean Oil reported 13 toppled platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, 5 leaning platforms, 21 satellite dishes blown off rooves, 23 leaning dishes, 104 incidents of structural damage, seven incidents of pollution, two fires and five drilling wells blown off location. Damage in the Bahamas was estimated at $0.25 billion. In south eastern USA, some 2,000,000 people were evacuated from their homes as winds reached up to 140 knots. Hurricane Andrew cost the lives of 40 people in Dade County with 250,000 left temporarily homeless.

Hurricane Mitch in October 1998 proved to be the fourth strongest hurricanes this century! As it developed in late October it became clear that this would be a quite exceptional event - and it became a H5 graded hurricane (Catastrophic!) before it hit the coast of Honduras with devastating power. At its height it delivered 25 inches of rainfall a day resulting in catastrophic flooding and mudslides across Honduras and Nicaragua. In one small area of Nicaragua, over 1000 people were feared dead when the slopes of Mount Casita, a volcano some 40 miles north of Managua, were washed away, flooding down on nearby villages.

The final death toll from Hurricane Mitch may well never be known - but is probably over ten thousand.

	Hurricane! Tropical cyclones, willy-willys
	Tornado Dust devils, waterspouts, whirlwinds
	The Great Storm of October 1987

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