Somalia – Floods After Tropical Storm Gati Dumps Year’s Worth of Rain

by in Africa, News

At least 8 people have died as a result of Tropical Storm Gati, which made landfall in Somalia on 22 November.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using IMERG data from the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) at NASA/GSFC and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS/LANCE and GIBS/Worldview and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership.

Tropical Cyclone Gati made landfall in Somalia on 22 November 2020, primarily impacting parts of Bari region in Puntland State and then Sanaag region in Somaliland.

Authorities said rainfall totals from the storm were greater than amounts normally seen for the whole year. In a 24 hour period, Bosaso recorded 128mm of rain and Balidhidin (also Balli Dhiddin) 103mm.

Severe damage to property, roads and infrastructure including telecommunication services has been reported. Around 15,000 people were displaced in Xaafuun and Hurdiya villages. Areas of Baarmadowe, Hafun and Bosaso among others have also been badly affected, according to reports. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said says that around 70,000 people have been affected in total.

At least 5 of the fatalities were Yemen fishermen who died after their vessel was caught in the storm off Hafun on 22 November. Many more are feared missing at sea.

Meanwhile flooding continues to affect other parts of Somalia. In a report of 23 November, OCHA said “nearly 278,000 people have been affected by the Deyr seasonal floods (October – December), of whom 108,000 have been displaced mainly in South West, Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Banadir region.”

NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using IMERG data from the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) at NASA/GSFC and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS/LANCE and GIBS/Worldview and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership.

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