On March 3rd of 2019, Cyclone Idai was born. The newborn was patient. Before it struck, it lingered along the Southeast coast of Africa, amassing great power. As the cyclone grew more and more vicious, angry, flood-inducing rains fell upon Mozambique and Malawi. Biding its time, Idai grew to be a tropical depression by May 11th. A tropical depression is like the teenage version of an adult tropical storm; it is not fully developed and has slower wind speeds. However, the teenager, comprised of many thunderstorms in a low pressure area, with winds circulating around the whole mass, is still a fearful entity. On March 14th and March 15th, Cyclone Idai pounced onto the coast of Mozambique.
The Category Two storm has proved to be crippling for South Africa. Though it was not the fastest or the strongest storm South Africa has ever faced, it hit at a weak spot, and packed an effective punch. Mozambique’s ocean floor is especially sensitive and gave rise to monstrous surges that reached almost four meters tall in the coastal city of Beira. In Beira, the scene is grotesque: hundreds of bodies are in the streets. Flooding has overtaken central Mozambique to such an extent that the water can be seen from space. A hundred thousand homes, one million acres of crops, countless streets, the lives of those affected--everything is underwater. To make matters worse, the people are trapped in unsanitary conditions, which have given rise to 1,400 cases of Cholera. The stage is also set for many other diseases to emerge.
About 18,000 people have been affected, and heavy rains following the initial disaster hindered relief. The International Red Cross has stated that they underestimated the severity of the storm. Humanitarian organizations need support in helping to aid Mozambique and other affected areas of southern Africa. An estimated one billion dollars’ worth of infrastructure has been damaged. Another Cyclone, dubbed Kenneth, struck Mozambique soon after Idai on April 25th.
Additionally, climate change may play an underlying role in the birth of these two cyclones. Doctor Fitchett from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa studies the role of climate change in storms, and finds that climate change makes the impact of these storms more calamitous. The warming phenomenon causes storms to develop faster, cutting down on precious preparation time, and it prompts increased rainfall, which leads to more flooding.The importance of climate change prevention is once again reaffirmed. Together, we can take steps to fight it.
You can help by donating to the World Vision fund, or to the Red Cross, where the money will go towards vital emergency supplies. You can also contribute to Save the Children to assist thousands of children living in areas swamped by water.
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