Mozambique: Flights cancelled, navigation suspended due to storm Eloise

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Mozambique: Flights cancelled, navigation suspended due to storm Eloise

6:20 CAT | 22 Jan 2021

File photo: Lusa

Most domestic flights in Mozambique have been cancelled and navigation off the central coast has been banned due to the approach of storm Eloise, the authorities said on Friday.

Rain and strong winds have affected several coastal regions of Nampula, Zambezia and Sofala provinces since early morning, and are expected to worsen towards Inhambane in the south.

The depression could reach the degree of cyclone before going ashore in the city of Beira during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to Mozambique’s Institute of Meteorology (Inam).

Mozambique Airlines (LAM) on Friday announced the cancellation of flights on routes between Maputo and the provincial capitals of Beira, Quelimane and Nampula.

“The company is taking steps to reschedule flights to carry passengers as soon as conditions are favourable,” it said.

The commercial port of Beira has suspended operations until Sunday and the maritime administration of Zambézia province has banned the movement of boats along the coast as a precautionary measure.

The adverse weather conditions are still hampering the transfer of inhabitants from the lower areas of Búzi district, on the south bank of the Pungúe river, opposite the city of Beira, an operation which has been taking place since Monday following the rise in river flow due to the rains of recent weeks.

The country is in the middle of a rainy and cyclonic season, which occurs between October and April, with winds from the Indian Ocean and floods originating in the river basins of southern Africa.

The 2018/2019 rainy season was one of the most severe in Mozambique: 714 people died, including 648 victims of two of the biggest cyclones (Idai and Kenneth) that have hit the country in a few weeks since the weather was recorded.

🌪️Winds of 150km/h
⛈️200mm of rain
⏰11 hours until the hit

As Tropical Storm #Eloise 🌀 is approaching Mozambique, several villages in Sofala are being evacuated.

To provide rapid humanitarian assistance, @WFP has prepositioned food 🌾 to support those who need it the most. pic.twitter.com/yUNHI8AyKi

— WFP Mozambique (@wfp_mozambique) January 22, 2021