Tropical storm system noted around 22 Oct developed into the Cat 5
Hurricane Mitch by 26 Oct and ravaged the northern coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua before moving inland around 30 Oct and eventually swinging around towards Florida by 4 Nov. It left the Honduran island of Guanaja flattened and the huge amount of rain dumped, caused mudslides around Posoltega in Nicaragua. Estimates put the death toll in excess of 10000.
In addition to the Netherlands Navy, the French Navy despatched the Jeanne dArc on 6 Nov under Operation Cormorant, reaching the Nicaragua / Guatemala area on 13 Nov.