Monday, 25 Jan 2021 06:39 PM MYT
Stranded: Homes in the Buzi area of central Mozambique after Cyclone Eloise. UNICEF/AFP pic
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MAPUTO, Jan 25 A tropical cyclone that hit central Mozambique this weekend has displaced thousands of people and caused severe flooding in an area battered by two deadly cyclones in 2019, response teams and aid agencies said.
Cyclone Eloise made landfall in the early hours of Saturday, bringing high-speed winds followed by torrential rain over the port city of Beira, capital of Mozambique’s Sofala province, and the adjacent Buzi district.
Mozambique: Tropical Storm Eloise - Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA)
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Description of the disaster
This DREF operation is being launched in response to Tropical Storm Eloise, which made landfall on early hours of 23 January 2021 near Beira City in Sofala Province, Central Mozambique. According to the National Institute of Meteorology of Mozambique (INAM), Eloise made landfall with sustained wind speed of up to 140km/h and gusts up to 160km/h and has brought heavy to intense rainfall to the coastal and inland areas. Other provinces being impacted are Inhambane and Gaza Provinces.
There are growing concerns regarding the potential for widespread floods, with all river basins in Sofala and Inhambane provinces already above alert levels before Eloise making landfall and more rains to follow in the coming days.
Southern Africa – Tropical Storm Eloise Flash Update No.4, As of 21 January 2021
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HIGHLIGHTS
Tropical Storm Eloise is in the Mozambique Channel, where it is forecast to intensify into a tropical cyclone on Friday, 22 January.
The storm is expected to make landfall in Sofala Province, Mozambique, probably on Saturday, 23 January.
Heavy rainfall, strong winds and thunderstorms are expected in several districts of Nampula, Sofala and Zambezia provinces in Mozambique from 22 January.
Latest forecasts indicate that the storm may then pass through southern Zimbabwe.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Tropical Storm Eloise is now in the Mozambique Channel, where it is expected to gain strength and become a Tropical Cyclone on 22 January before making its second landfall, likely on 23 January.