‘Cartegory 1’ Tropical Cyclone Eloise ravages Mozambique

The storm that has swept through Africa’s east coast has displaced thousands in Mozambique and destroyed over 130,000 hectares of crops. 

Mozambique is experiencing heavy rains and flooding, brought by Tropical Cyclone Eloise Endless rain and powerful winds at 150 km/hr winds have hit Mozambique’s coastal province of Sofala. The momentum slowly weakened as it swept inland reaching as far as Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa. 

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Several villages around Sofala are being evacuated as thousands of hectares remain submerged. Initially, UNFPA Mozambique reported over 163,000 people affected, 11 health centers damaged of 26 classes remained partially damaged. However, the figures seem to have shot up. DW reports, that over 200,000 people could be affected by flooding in Mozambique alone prompting aid workers to remain on standby. 

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The port city of Beira was the worst-hit resulting in the unfortunate death of nine people after the cyclone hit. Extensive damage from the torrential downpour could be seen such as submerged cars, fallen trees, the collapse of low-lying buildings, and flooding. Beira was at the core of the cyclone, entering the eye. 

It was only two years ago when Beira was ravaged by Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Kenneth thereafter. The impact hit 3 million people across Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique claiming 600 lives.

The South African Weather Service is reporting heavy rainfall in parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga then Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Eastern and persistent rain that can result in showers will result in flooding in Northern KZN and surrounding areas. 

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Eloise was declared a category 1 Tropical Cyclone that was poised to impact a million people. The cyclone found high water levels brought about by Tropical Storm Chalane. Eloise has since lost its strength and was downgraded by the World Meteorological Organisation to nothing more than a tropical storm. 

The cyclone originated somewhere close to Madagascar where it resulted in some flooding and the loss of one life. 

On Friday evening(22 January), category 1 tropical #CycloneEloise made landfall in the central province of Sofala, Mozambique bringing strong and devastating winds of 120 km/h and gusts up to 150 km/h, according to Mozambique’s Disaster Risk Reduction Institute (INDG). pic.twitter.com/c2NwXGeZsO

— MSF Southern Africa (@MSF_southafrica) January 25, 2021