Mozambique: Tropical Storm Eloise - Information Bulletin no. 2
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This bulletin reflects the current situation and details available as of 25 of January 2021. The Mozambique Red Cross Society (CVM), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its members, is already responding to this humanitarian emergency while continuing to support the national authorities in assessing the extent of the damage.
The situation
Tropical Storm Eloise made landfall in the first hours of 23 of January, 20km south of the Beira City in Sofala Province, bringing winds of 140km/h and wind gusts of over 160km/h as well as extreme and widespread rainfall in many districts in Sofala (in Beira city – 250mm in 24h), South of Manica, North of Inhambane and Eastern Gaza.
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.
Roughly 160 International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff in central Mozambique are working to prepare local communities for the imminent arrival of Cyclone Eloise, which is currently packing winds of at least 150 km/h.
“The people are scared,” said Cesaltino Vilanculo, an IOM Mobile team leader in the provincial capital Beira, who helped hundreds of families evacuate from unsafe temporary settlements to two accommodation centers.
“The water is rising in their zones and people are frightened, bracing for yet another storm.”
Eloise is expected to make landfall in Beira late Friday or early Saturday. By mid-afternoon today shops across the city are closed and flooded streets, empty.
It will bring hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall and the risk of coastal flooding, with widespread humanitarian impacts, and underlines once again the importance of WMO’s efforts to strengthen early warnings and build resilience, especially in vulnerable countries on the frontline of climate change.
Eloise impacted Madagascar before crossing the Mozambican Channel, killing at least one person and causing damage.
It is forecast that Eloise will make landfall near the city of Beira, between the Zambezi delta and Save river delta. Given that Eloise is a large system, there is a high probability (above 90%) that Beira will be affected or grazed by the radius of maximum winds, according to WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre La Réunion (MeteoFrance).
Southern Africa – Tropical Cyclone Eloise Flash Update No.5, As of 22 January 2021
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HIGHLIGHTS
Tropical Cyclone Eloise is forecast to make landfall near Beira City in Sofala Province, Mozambique, as a Tropical Cyclone in the early hours of 23 January.
Sofala Province has experienced heavy rainfall, strong winds and flooding since 15 January, with more than 21,500 people affected and more than 1,900 houses flooded prior to Eloise’s landfall, according to the Government. With many rivers and basins above alert levels, the most immediate concern is the potential for significant flooding as Eloise brings further rains.
Following its landfall in Mozambique, Eloise is expected to move inland, bringing heavy rains to southern Zimbabwe, northern South Africa and far eastern Botswana.