Most of Malawi without power after floods caused by Tropical Cyclone “Ana”
Tropical Cyclone "Ana" made landfall over Mozambique on January 24, 2022, and continued moving west over Malawi while weakening and dissipating, but still dumping very heavy rain. At least 8 people have been killed in Mozambique and 4 in Malawi.
Mozambique's National Institute for Management and Disaster Risk Reduction said two people had been killed and 66 injured, while 546 homes had been partially destroyed and another 115 completely destroyed.1
Government and UN agencies estimate that 500 000 people may be impacted in Mozambique's Nampula, Zambezia, and Sofala provinces.2
Floods in Malawi killed one person, injured another 30, and forced Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) to shut down all its power plants, leaving only 30% of the country's installed capacity and causing widespread blackouts.
EGENCO spokesperson Moses Gwaza said Tuesday he is uncertain as to when the machines may resume generating electricity, but was optimistic that electricity may be back by Wednesday morning, January 26.
The Kapichira hydropower station was damaged particularly bad, EGENCO said, adding that the intake dam structure had been partly washed away during flash floods.
Search and rescue operations are underway in the town of Chikwawa.
According to the Malawi Red Cross National Response Team member Chawezi Tembo, there is an urgent need for airlifting evacuation as water levels are still rising due to continued rainfall.
Tropical Storm #Ana has caused flooding in Southern #Malawi. @WFP_Malawi is on the ground working with @DisasterDept to assess the situation
We are ready to support the response pic.twitter.com/XhWpa3eUx1
— WFP Malawi (@WFP_Malawi) January 25, 2022
In Chikwawa, search and rescue operation is underway. According to @MalawiRedCross National Response Team member Chawezi Tembo, there is urgent need for airlifting evacuation as water levels are still rising due to continued rainfall. Number of people trapped not yet known. pic.twitter.com/0p7PURusEi
— Malawi Red Cross Society (@MalawiRedCross) January 25, 2022
He was however optimistic that electricity may be back by tomorrow morning.
Video, courtesy of social media, shows the situation at Nkula Falls.
Reported by Justin Mkweu pic.twitter.com/74wdsAMeXG
— Times 360 Malawi (@Times360Malawi) January 24, 2022
The passage of Tropical Cyclone "Ana" together with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) caused a week of heavy rains in Madagascar, leaving at least 34 people dead and more than 64 000 affected.3
Surroundings of ikopa river #Antananarivo #Flooding pic.twitter.com/aYaZkIMoaT
— Drones.mg (@DronesMg) January 23, 2022
Sisaony and Ikopa rivers are still overtopping their banks #Antanananarivo #Flooding #tropicalstormANA pic.twitter.com/7Ny3PFfACg
— Drones.mg (@DronesMg) January 25, 2022
Ana is the first named storm of the 2022 Southwest Indian Ocean cyclone season.
Another tropical cyclone is brewing east of Madagascar and current forecast models call for a direct hit over Madagascar on February 2. While it's still too early to be sure, this could be a significant tropical cyclone.
Updates
The death toll in Mozambique and Malawi rose to 12 on Wednesday.4
8 people died, 54 had been injured and 895 were evacuated in the prior 24 hours, Mozambique's National Institute for Management and Disaster Risk Reduction said.
More than 20 000 people in Mozambique have been affected by the storm, with more than 3 000 homes partially destroyed and over 600 totally destroyed along with several health centers and dozens of classrooms, the institute said, adding that drones and boats had been deployed in relief efforts.
The death toll in Malawi rose from 1 to 4.
Officials and aid agencies are still assessing the full impact.
January 27
The death toll rose to 70 on January 27, with 41 deaths in Madagascar, 18 in Mozambique and 11 in Malawi
References:
1 Storm Ana kills at least three in Mozambique and Malawi – Reuters
2 Tropical storm Ana kills at least 34 people in Madagascar, 2 in Mozambique – AFP
3 Severe floods and landslides leave at least 34 people dead, 64 000 affected in Madagascar – The Watchers
4 Death toll from tropical storm Ana in Mozambique, Malawi rises to 12 – Reuters
Featured image credit: Malawi Red Cross Society
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