Mozambique
is on high alert as Tropical Cyclone Idai barrels towards the country’s central
coast. Red Cross disaster response teams in Zambezia and Sofala provinces are
readying response plans in anticipation of the cyclone’s landfall towards the
end of the week.
Dr
Fatoumata Nafo-Traoré, Regional Director for Africa for the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said:
“This
dangerous and powerful cyclone could pose an extreme risk to tens of thousands
of people in Mozambique. Our teams are on high alert in anticipation of a
potentially destructive landfall.
“We
encourage people in Mozambique to remain alert, to keep following weather
forecasts, and to respond immediately to any warning messages that are relayed
by authorities”.
According
to meteorologists, Idai’s intensity is equal to that of a Category 3 Atlantic
hurricane. However, at its peak intensity, it may reach the equivalent of a
Category 4 or even a Category 5 hurricane.Depending on its intensity and
trajectory, Cyclone Idai could also exacerbate the situation in southern Malawi
where more than 115,000 people have been affected by severe flooding. In
Malawi, Red Cross search and rescue teams are ferrying people trapped by the rising
water to safety, as well as distributing basic relief items in six of the
worst-affected districts.
Mozambique
is regularly hit by cyclones. In February 2007, Cyclone Favio damaged or
destroyed 130,000 homes and displaced tens of thousands of people. In 2000,
Cyclone Eline hit an already flood-affected central Mozambique, leaving about
463,000 people homeless. Together, the floods and the cyclone killed about 700
people.
Approaching Cyclone Idai, gusts
of southern winds and dense clouds on the horizon. For now everything very
quiet around here. #IDAI #CycloneIdai #Beira #Mozambique #MozambiqueFloodings2019 pic.twitter.com/yGBMollZOx
—
Duarte Gouveia (@duarteg0uveia) March 13, 2019
Powerful
#cyclone Idai is expected to lash #Mozambique, threatening to destroy
homes and put thousands of lives at risk. #RedCross teams are on the ground,
ready to respond. pic.twitter.com/K979Pptflq
—
IFRC Intl. Federation #RedCross #RedCrescent (@ifrc) March 12, 2019
1
week long infrared loop showing the evolution from overland flooding
disturbance to formation of major hurricane strength tropical cyclone #Idai 🌀, a threat
now to the coastal city of of #Beira #Mozambique 🇲🇿(population more than half a million) #CycloneIdai pic.twitter.com/fnUCvCLc9Z
—
YouStorm (@YouStormorg) March 13, 2019
Le
cyclone #IDAI est à moins de 500 km
quasiment plein Est de #Beira. Impact prévu dans moins de
48h sur les côtes du #Mozambique https://t.co/uONPRAegcZ pic.twitter.com/Z57iVsJfpb
—
cycloneoi.com (@Cycloneoi) March 13, 2019
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