Cyclone Idai: Details, Significance, Effects and Implications

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Cyclone Idai
Introduction
Cyclone Idai refers to a strong category 2 storm that hit southern parts of Africa in the
south eastern coast of the Indian Ocean. The affected countries include Mozambique, Malawi,
Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The cyclone is the most tragic cyclone in the south eastern coast of
Africa. The cyclone caused massive catastrophic damage and flooding causing more than 1,200
deaths and displacement of several thousands of people. This paper focuses on the details of the
disaster, its significance, short term and long term effects and the effects on physical geography
and political and economic situation.
Details of cyclone Idai
According to Education and Oxfam (1), cyclone Idai came from a tropical depression that
had formed off the eastern coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean on the 4th of March 2019.
This formed a cyclonic storm that later in the day hit the coast of Mozambique. The tropical
cyclone continued on for 5 days on land. The depression emerged again of March 9 and
strengthened to a moderate tropical storm. The tropical storm continued to intensify rapidly on
the following day with winds reaching up to 175km/hr. However, through the next three days,
the intensity reduced due to structural changes within its core.

The storm reached it maximum intensity on 14th March. The storm had maximum
sustained winds of 195km/hr and a minimum central pressure of 940 hPa. The storm hit land on
15th march at Beira in Mozambique causing so much infrastructural damage in the region. The
storm continued sweeping across Mozambique and turned towards East two days later. After a
series of strong land storms in the South Eastern African coast, Cyclone Idai finally subsided on
the 21st of March 2019.
Significance
Cyclone Idai was among the most destructive cyclones to ever hit Africa. The cyclone
brought about strong winds and floods that swept across several countries in the South Eastern
Basin. Strong winds and severe flooding was experienced in Madagascar, Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Malawi. Besides the flooding, the storm also caused infrastructural damages of
an estimated one billion US dollars making the storm to be the most expensive tropical cyclone
in the region (Education and Oxfam 5).
Long term and short term effects
Short term
Idai led to various catastrophic consequences in the four countries that were involved.
The cyclone destroyed houses and power lines causing power shortages and communication shut
down in the region especially in Beira, Mozambique. Businesses and organizations had to be
shut down due to the flooding making basic services unavailable. Many roads were inaccessible
which delayed humanitarian evacuations. In general, the storm led to deaths and displacement of
many people causing misery and suffering.
Long term