Hurricane Mitch is the name that was designated for this terrible natural phenomenon that passed through Central America from October 22 to November 5, 1998, leaving behind a devastating landscape.
It was formed in the western Atlantic Ocean on October 22, and after passing through extremely favorable conditions, quickly reached Category 5, the level high as possible on the scale Saffir-Simpson Hurricane. The affected areas were Central America, especially Honduras and Nicaragua, the Yucatan Peninsula and southern Florida. Deaths from catastrophic floods made it the second deadliest hurricane in the Atlantic, about 11,000 people died and about 8,000 were missing by the end of 1998. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed due to landslides and floods. No data precise about material losses, but it is estimated a little more than $ 5 billion in damages.
In Honduras, 80% of the country's transportation infrastructure was completely destroyed, including many bridges and alternative roads; The damage was so great that the existing maps were classified as obsolete. Although Mitch never entered Nicaragua, his long career caused a prolonged rain that damaged 17,600 houses and destroyed 23,900, displacing 368,300 people. In addition, 340 schools and 90 health centers were severely damaged or destroyed.
Mitch was also responsible for the loss of the Fantome sailboat owned by Windjammer Barefoot Cruises; All 31 crew members died. Grief, pain, death and destruction was part of the aftermath left by Tropical Storm Mitch and the Newton Depression in Guatemala. To avoid major tragedies, departmental authorities evacuated 46,000 people, especially in Zacapa, Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Petén and Chiquimula, while some 2,500 people who were in risk areas were transferred to the capital, reported the National Coordinator of Disaster Reduction, Conred. To face the crisis, the authorities authorized 22 shelters in the capital and 47 in the departments.
The heavy downpours left several communities in the country cut off. According to the Ministry of Communications, there were 75 landslides in the northeast and south of the country. The telephone network in Gualán and Likin was interrupted for several days due to damage to the central stations.
