Cyclone Chapala: Socotra Island hit, 1 dead and 9 injured

A rare and rapidly intensifying cyclone killed one person and injured nine Sunday on the remote Yemeni island of Socotra as it moved toward the Yemeni mainland, local security officials said.

The officials said Cyclone Chapala seriously damaged or destroyed at least 20 homes on the island.

They said many residents living near the coast are taking shelter in caves or in schools. The island is being hit by heavy rain and strong winds, and rising waves are battering the coast. The officials said coastal areas are flooded.

Residents said they haven't seen winds and rain like this in decades.

Socotra island lies in the Indian Ocean some 230 miles (368 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen's mainland. It is known for its unique vegetation and ecosystems, including rare dragon blood trees.

The UN weather agency said on Friday that Cyclone Chapala could dump more than a year's worth of rainfall on the arid, impoverished and war-torn country.

The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System forecasts the storm will make landfall in Yemen around midday Tuesday, following earlier estimates that it would hit on Monday.  It said that up to 390,000 people could be affected by the wind speeds, and 3,500 people residing in coastal areas could be affected by storm surge.

In Al Mahra, Yemen's easternmost province, security officials said dark clouds are forming amid unusually strong winds, though no damage has been reported yet.

Mukalla is evacuating a coastal neighborhood which is one of the oldest in the city.

According to the 6pm update by Oman Meteorology, Cyclone Chapala currently lies 400km away from the governorate of Dhofar, with wind speeds of up to 171kmph.

During the next 12 hours, the cyclone is expected to be downgraded to a category one storm.

Coastal areas around Dhofar have been evacuated by the Omani authorities, while neighbouring Yemen faces flooding and gale winds on Socotra Island.

Oman Met office further adds: "The centre of Chapala is expected to cross the coastal areas of Yemen as a tropical cyclone category one storm in the next 36 hours.

"Heavy rain and occasional thundershowers associated with fresh winds are expected to affect the Dhofar governorate.

"Torrential rains with fresh to strong winds also expected, associated with rough to very rough sea conditions with wave height reaching five to seven metres."

Residents of Salalah are reporting public beaches are closed, while several have stocked up on emergency food and water supplies as rainfall and thunderstorms commence in the area in wake of Cyclone Chapala.

Caption : Roads flooded

Courtesy : Emirates 24/7 News