Aftermath of Cyclone Dineo; flooding rains claim four lives
Cyclone Dineo has left a trail of destruction in the Mozambique coastline after hitting it hard on Wednesday night, reportedly killing four. After ripping off the coastline, the cyclone which downgraded as a Tropical Storm aimed Limpopo and Mpumalanga by pouring torrential rains and howling winds.
As of now, Tropical cyclone has been downgraded as a tropical depression thereby giving a sigh of relief to the South Africans. However, four people were reported to have been killed due to the Cyclone in Mozambique.
However, the aftermath of Cyclone Dineo can be made out of the fact that close to 20 000 properties have been destroyed, displacing around 130 000 in Mozambique. Moreover, 105 schools, 49 hospitals, and 52 other buildings had also been devastated.
House roofs were blown away, sights of tree uprooting can be easily witnessed, and upper air electricity and telephone cables were dented.
After ruining the coastline, the cyclone affected parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo with heavy rains. As per the Meteorological Department, the storms are likely to continue lashing the regions with torrential rains and gusty winds until Saturday evening.
The weather authorities also claim that despite the degradation of the cyclone to a low, inland are still in danger for at least another 48 hours.
Hence, now the cyclone that has been declassified as a low will affect Limpopo, Botswana and adjoining South Zimbabwe with incessant rains and strong winds. In fact, some of the regions like Mutare, Chiredzi and Beitbridge have been witnessing heavy rains which is likely to continue until Monday.
However, the tropical storm will have no effect on the Eastern Cape.
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After ripping Mozambique, Tropical Storm Dineo aims Limpopo and Mpumalanga
After battering the Mozambique coastline with destructive winds and torrential downpour, Cyclone Dineo, the fifth cyclone of 2016/2017 is ready to give howling gales and heavy rains over Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The cyclone has already left trail of destructions in Mozambique coastline and many people and businesses across the region have suffered devastation. House roofs have blown away, sights of tree uprooting can be easily witnessed, and over air electricity and telephone cables had been dented.
Watch cyclone #Dineo landfalling in Inhambane province, southern Mozambique. Video recorded by Brian Jefferies. pic.twitter.com/JJgXCxvsou
— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) February 15, 2017
The severe tropical Cyclone, Dineo which has strengthen in the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel is moving in an easterly direction. However, the cyclone is already showing signs of weakening and is expected to degenerate further into a well-marked low in next 24 hours. The cyclone which will be degraded as a tropical storm is likely to hit Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa late afternoon today. The areas may witness gales at 118km/h to 212 km/h.
Tropical cyclone #Dineo weaker than predicted – EWN #Mozambique https://t.co/80cFAC7Eul pic.twitter.com/XwteiE9T9a — Club of Mozambique (@clubOmozambique) February 16, 2017
The weatherman predicts that the tropical Cyclone is likely to affect Limpopo with heavy rains while scattered showers are expected to affect Mpumalanga. In fact, most of the regions across South Africa have been witnessing heavy rains since 3 am.
Joint operations by Limpopo is expected to get activated by midday today. Flooding alert until Saturday across the region has also been issued by the Weather Service.
However, the tropical storm will have no effect on the Eastern Cape.
Cyclone Dineo, the fifth cyclone of 2016/2017 is likely to lash the Mozambique coastline on Wednesday night before hitting South Africa. Moreover, severe rainfall warning has also been issued in parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The severe tropical cyclone, Dineo which has strengthened in the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel is about 210 km west-southwest of Europa Island. The cyclone is tracking west-southwestwards at a speed of 13 kph and is likely to affect the northern parts of South Africa.
The cyclone is expected to pour torrential, flooding rains along with strong and destructive winds at Mozambique coastline starting Wednesday afternoon, becoming heavier into Thursday as the storm moves over land.
Furthermore, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng are predicted to witness moderate to heavy rain and showers through Thursday. The gradual increase of wind speed around 40-50 kph is likely after the landfall of the system (Dineo) over both the regions.
As per the weatherman, there are still some uncertainties about the timings and location of the cyclone, but, Ehlanzeni district (including the Kruger National Park) in Mpumalanga, as well as Mopani and Vhembe districts in Limpopo, are said to be gripped the most by the cyclone. thereafter, the cyclone is likely to affect other districts of Limpopo.
Image Credit: The Watchers
