Mbabane: The Eswatini Meteorological Services Department is warning that a cyclone that could pose risks to the country might form within a week and is appealing to the population to stay abreast of weather warnings.
It reports that “a low atmospheric pressure system has formed, which could evolve into a tropical cyclone over the east coast of Madagascar on January 22, 2022. The tropical cyclones are expected to mature and impact Southern Africa and all the countries that lie in the South Western Indian Ocean tropical cyclone basin.
Between December and April, the warm waters in the Indian Ocean, including the Mozambique Channel, are one of the factors that contribute to the formation of cyclones that can hit the Mozambican coast and extend inland to affect the other countries in the region.
The Director of Early Warning and Research at the National Disaster Management Agency, Eric Seyama says the weather conditions in the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique channel have the potential of generating anything between four and eight cyclones that can subsequently develop into tropical cyclones.
Seyama went on to mention that “the National Disaster Management Agency and the Eswatini Meteorological Services Department have developed a tropical cyclone readiness plan that it will unpack along with the cooperation of the public. This plan is fundamental in strengthening the country’s preparedness and capacity to enable the government to deploy resources for emergency response.”
Part of the Tropical Readiness Plan forecasts two possible scenarios. The first scenario being an indirect impact of the cyclones that would affect all of the country’s regions and approximately 120 000 people. The second scenario being a direct impact of the cyclones on the country affecting up to 420 000 people. In this regard, Eswatini would require more than E 170 Million for the first scenario and approximately E 400 Million for the second situation.
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