Cyclone Idai and Cyclone Leon-Eline

Looking back at two devastating Tropical Cyclones that hit parts of Southern Africa, as well as the effects of their destructions.

Cyclone Eline

Summary

This cyclone dates back to 1 February 2000 when it was first discovered. It was also on this day when the cyclone was formed in the Australian basin. Initially it was named Cyclone Leon until it gain intensity after crossing 90 degrees east of the South-West Indian Ocean. It was at this time when it received the name Cyclone Eline (hence Cyclone Leon-Eline). A meteorological center on the French Island called Réunion, called the Météo-France office in Réunion (MFR), monitored the developments and movements of this tropical storm. Eline dissipated on the 29th of February 2000.

Countries affected:

Madagascar

Eline reached Mahanoro on the 17th of February 2000 with winds that had speeds over 160 km/h (>99 mph). 

Mozambique

Landfalls were experienced at the southern part of Beira, on the 22nd of February 2000.

Cyclone Idai

Summary

This dangerous tropical cyclone came years later post the arrival of another destructive cyclone, Cyclone Eline (a.k.a Cyclone Leon-Eline which lasted for approximately 4 weeks in the year 2000). It was discovered and first monitored in Réunion on 1 March 2019. On the 4th of March 2019, the Météo-France office on Réunion (MFR) announced that a tropical depression had formed by the east coast of Mozambique and it was heading towards the west. It is said that the storm had rains which accumulated to approximately 200-600 mm, which is not pleasant.

Countries affected:

Mozambique

It is hard to comprehend the fact that over 2 000 families could not find their missing loved ones post the havoc that was caused by Cyclone Idai. these missing people could have been carried by flowing water or buried by the two landfalls that cleared the infrastructure and other developments in some areas. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a landfall is a reaching of land as by a storm (basically a landslide).

So the first landfall introduced great floods in some provinces, on the 6th of March 2019. These provinces included: Tete, Niassa and Zambezia (which received the greatest destruction). The statistics of the effects of the flooding are as follows:

1. 66 deaths;
2. approximately 111 injuries;
3. 8 hospitals were destroyed;
4. it is estimated that over 21 000 houses were affected and about 30% of these houses were destroyed;
5. over 930 classrooms were destroyed;
6. The agriculture sector was greatly affected since over 100 000 hectares of crops were destroyed in less time, which means many farmers, whether commercial or subsistence farmers, suffered huge loses.

During the second landfall, the tropical storm passed over the central and western parts of Mozambique since Cyclone Idai was moving towards the west. Coastal areas like Beira were greatly affected by the destructive winds and floods. The statistics are as follows:

1. more than 532 people died;
2. at least 1 800 people were seriously injured by both the storm and airborne debris.

Madagascar

Heavy rains (with accumulations of approximately 400mm) were experienced in Besalampy, which is located at the northwestern part of Madagascar. There were great floods and mudslides in the area and it was unfortunate that one person was killed by the floods and many were left homeless. Many communication channels were destroyed as well which made it hard for many people in Besalampy to communicate with their relatives and friends across Madagascar and beyond.

Zimbabwe

If you read or listen to the accounts from the survivors in the Chimanimani and Chipinge districts, you will feel very sad and you will feel pity for them. The way many individuals were carried by floods and deposited in Mozambique; and the way some were buried together with their properties (covered with soil, pebbles and boulders), is extremely horrifying. It is still a nightmare to many even to this present day, since we are currently hearing of the destructions caused by Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Batsirai.

One common disturbing incident is when approximately 200 people went to a police camp on a hill in Chimanimani, to seek safety from the floods. Unfortunately, floods came towards the police camp and in less that an hour, everyone perished and the camp was destroyed. 

Malawi

some of the information and statistics stated here are provided by various news networks and other authentic sources on the internet.