Cyclone Chapala Hammers Yemen; At Least 3 Dead

Sean Breslin
Published: November 3,2015

The coast of Yemen, an area unaccustomed to dealing with the devastation of tropical systems, has taken a direct hit from the powerful and dangerous Cyclone Chapala.
As Chapala made landfall Tuesday, it dumped enormous amounts of rainfall on the arid coast – as much as a decade's worth, according to some forecasts. This caused major flooding and swamped entire towns.
(MORE: Check the Chapala Forecast)

Relief Web reported Tuesday that the cyclone has already caused severe flooding in the country's fifth-largest city, Mukalla, with 25 reported injuries. Initial reports suggest that more than 12,750 people have  left  their  homes  in  coastal  areas  of  Hadramaut governorate.  At  least  90  homes  have  reportedly  been damaged or destroyed.
"The wind knocked out power completely in the city and people were terrified. Some residents had to leave their homes and escape to higher areas where flooding was less; it was a difficult night but it passed off peacefully," Mukalla resident Sabri Saleem told Reuters.
There have been no confirmed injuries in Mukalla so far, the report added. Chapala weakened to a tropical storm late Tuesday night, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
(MORE: Yemen, Slammed by Cyclone Chapala, Faces Locust Plague Risk for Months)
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in its routine monthly Desert Locust Bulletin issued Tuesday, said heavy rains from Cyclone Chapala "are likely to result in favourable ecological conditions" for the growth of desert locusts in the central part of the country. The bulletin warned those conditions "could last well into next spring."

3 Dead on Socotra Island

Before hitting the mainland, Chapala sideswiped the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sunday. At least three people were killed and more than 200 were injured on Socotra, according to Emirates 24/7. There was also a huge loss of property on the island, the report added.
An estimated 20,000 people were reportedly evacuated from coastal areas and close to 400 houses were damaged or destroyed, Relief Web reported.
"The damage is enormous and we fear human losses," Socotra Island Minister of Fisheries Fahd Kafain told Emirates 24/7.
Locals sought shelter in government buildings and schools, as high water levels flooded numerous streets in Hadibo. It is likely that a combination of heavy rainfall and storm surge caused the flooding.

In the above Tweet from Roses, he states that youth and community efforts have been made to move families from affected homes and there is further need for more assistance.
A fuel shortage that has been ongoing for three weeks has complicated the evacuation and recovery efforts. Officials also said that the damaging winds have cut power to parts of the area.
Socotra is about 150 miles east of the Horn of Africa and about 200 miles southeast of Yemen's mainland, which is on the Arabian Peninsula. The north shore of the island, closest to the center of the storm, was hit hardest this weekend.

Aid Groups Prepare Emergency Response

The World Health Organization has mobilized response efforts to help those left hungry, injured or homeless by Chapala. According to a news release, the WHO is working with Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population to reach affected citizens.
So far, the WHO says it has delivered 1,000 trauma kits to Mukalla for injured residents, as well as fuel to keep local hospitals running and ambulances gassed up.
"We are in a regular contact with the health authorities in Mukalla and rapid response teams from the Ministry of Public Health and Population to provide health information and carry out constant surveillance and assessment," Dr. Ahmed Shadoul, WHO Representative for Yemen, said in the release. "WHO, health partners and health authorities are on high alert to ensure preparedness measures are in place and provide a timely response."

An Unusual Storm for the Area

While numerous tropical systems have formed in the Arabian Sea, it is uncommon for a storm the strength of Chapala to occur so far south and west. Chapala was the equivalent of a low-end Category 4 hurricane as it passed by Socotra.
(MORE: Strangest Locations Hurricanes Have Formed Around the World)
Chapala is likely the strongest cyclone to impact the island in over 100 years. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's tropical database, the last time a hurricane-equivalent cyclone came this close to Socotra was in 1922. The previous occurrence before that was a cyclone in 1885 and both of those storms were only the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane.