F5.5G Leap-forward Development of Broadband in Africa The Africa Broadband Forum 2024 (BBAF 2024) was successfully held in Cape Town, South Africa recently, under…
Cyclone Dineo aftermath: cleanup begins in Mozambique, Zimbabwe
Cyclone Dineo is no longer a threat to South Africa after the storm dissipated over Namibia this weekend. That doesn’t mean it didn’t have devastating effects for those in Mozambique, Botswana or Zimbabwe.
A number of Twitter users this weekend took to the social network to publish images of the aftermath of Dineo, as the storm swept through their neighbourhoods.
In total, at least seven people died as the result of the storm, with over 100 000 people affected in Mozambique alone. At least 20 houses have been damaged in South Africa. But numbers alone can’t reflect the true damage of a natural disaster.
Cyclone Dineo affected much of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, flooding much of both countries and leaving over 100 000 homeless in the former
Praia Do Toto in Mozambique’s tourist city Inhambane felt the brunt of the storm, with structural damage caused by stiff winds. The South African Weather Service predicted the eye of Dineo to pass directly over Inhambane last Wednesday.
Storm damage in Inhambane Tofo bay… footage sent to me short while ago by a friend who is there. #cycloneDineo pic.twitter.com/7tAvDbCek3
— Nic Holmes (@rescueclimber) February 16, 2017
More pictures after #dineo hit Inhambane coast. pic.twitter.com/BNbUa7F1ph
— Yassin Amuji (@AmujiY) February 16, 2017
Watch cyclone #Dineo landfalling in Inhambane province, southern Mozambique. Video recorded by Brian Jefferies. pic.twitter.com/JJgXCxvsou
— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) February 15, 2017
More pictures from Inhambane Mozambique courtesy of TV Mozambique. Cyclone #Dineo #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/xFAjF5rJ78
— Mweli Masilela (@mwelimasilela) February 16, 2017
Some more footage coming out of Mozambique from a mate who is sitting out #cycloneDineo in Tofo bay Inhambane. #TropicalStormDineo pic.twitter.com/GUao99rNf9
— Nic Holmes (@rescueclimber) February 16, 2017
Situation in Inhambane Mozambique as cyclone #Dineo hits. Clip from Rita Almeida, who’s part of the disaster management team. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/B9LPuIsy12
— Mweli Masilela (@mwelimasilela) February 15, 2017
Across the bay from Inhambane, the town of Maxixe also suffered extensive damage from Dineo.
First images of the damages in Maxixe town, #Mozambique after #cycloneDineo . #RedCross are teams on the ground to respond to urgent needs pic.twitter.com/0YDVfod4uA
— IFRC (@Federation) February 16, 2017
#dineo effects in Inhambane, Maxixe and Morrumbene! pic.twitter.com/a3DwdqNUHX
— Yassin Amuji (@AmujiY) February 16, 2017
Botswana experienced monsoon-like rainfall in the wake of Dineo’s passing, with rainfall amounts topping 200mm in some areas.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN MM #PULA 🌧️
Changate Primary 270
Senete Primary 150
Zoroga 144
Jackalas1 120
Nata 110
Orapa106 https://t.co/chdgtbepsq pic.twitter.com/thTy5fGdU4— Botswana Government (@BWGovernment) February 18, 2017
In Zimbabwe, Dineo also flooded much of the country’s drought-strickened areas. The Tsholotsho district in Matabeleland North was left reeling after crops and houses were destroyed by the storm. Bridges were also washed away.
Two other regions, namely Manicaland and Masvingo were also affected.
Helicopters to rescue villagers in Tsholotsho Sipepa as downgraded #CycloneDineo destroys mo than 20 homesteads @skhumoyo2000 @BusieBhebhe pic.twitter.com/RJfAVD9Trc
— Temba Dube (@TembaDube) February 19, 2017
Flooded Khami river bridge Tsholotsho road. pic.twitter.com/L65zBJPj8r
— Ron Lumbiwa (@ronlumbiwa) February 18, 2017
The aftermath of #cycloneDineo. This is Tsholotsho in Matebeleland North pic.twitter.com/HVtz7FLKXw
— ICTin Agriculture (@tech4agric) February 19, 2017
The country’s Air Force is also currently engaged in cleanup and rescue operations in the region.
One of the two Air Force helicopters in Tsholotsho deployed today to rescue at least 50 families marooned by floods in Ward 6! pic.twitter.com/uJuwrxjHQB
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) February 19, 2017
As for the country’s dams, Bulawayo’s city council tweeted that a number of its dams were spilling, with as much as 25% capacity gained in less than 12 hours.
It’s the first time the dam has spilled in over two decades, according to local Bulawayo media.
The Upper Ncema Dam has reached the 100 percent mark and is now spilling. This morning the Dam was at 74.55% & was at 99% by late afternoon pic.twitter.com/e0Gneusbz6
— The City of Bulawayo (@CityofBulawayo) February 17, 2017
Upper Ncema this afternoon. At this rate Lower Ncema is going to spill soon. We had 42mm yesterday after the… https://t.co/vFszE3gXYw
— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) February 19, 2017
But Bulawayo’s city centre wasn’t exempt from adverse effects. One of the city’s eateries also collapsed, injuring a number of patrons. Although the cause is not yet understood, the weather could have played a factor.
Nandos @CityofBulawayo collapses @ChronicleZim @BusieBhebhe @StarFMNews @259ef13e9d63432 pic.twitter.com/6G1mUbw2kH
— Temba Dube (@TembaDube) February 18, 2017
Cleanup operations continue at the time of writing.
Feature image: Nacala, Mozambique (2007) by Stig Nygaard via Flickr (CC 2.0, resized)
