CYCLONE KENNETH GAINS STRENGTH AS IT MOVES TOWARDS THE AFRICAN MAINLAND
(Posted 24th April 2019)
A tropical depression, which formed around the Aldabra Atoll, has reportedly gained strength and been moved up to cyclone status, given the name of Kenneth.
It is expected according to meteorogical forecasts that the new storm will hit the African mainland along the northern coast of Mozambique and the southern coastline of Tanzania by the end of this week.
Mozambique last month was hit by a devastating cyclone named Idai which nearly wiped out the city of Beira and caused wide spread flooding along its path of destruction which even reached Malawi and in particular Eastern Zimbabwe. Thousands of people perished as a result of the direct storm impact and subsequent flood waters.
Already struggling to normalise live in the areas affected by Idai is Mozambique now staring at the nightmare scenario of a second cyclone hitting within weeks at a different part of the country and the international community is preparing for an added aid effort to support Mozambique’s authorities.
South African weather forecasters have suggested that the cyclone might hit the mainland with windspeeds of between 130 and 150 kmh, combine with rough sea conditions and high swells and extensive rainfall, but not on the scale of Idai.
Air transport, as well as road transport, may be affected when the storm approaches the African coastline in particular for flights into and out of the areas directly in the path of the storm.
