Tropical Cyclone Pawan made landfall in Puntland State of Somalia on 07 December, 2019.
Heavy rain and wind gusts of 80 km/h were reported. Somalia’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management said the cyclone hit the coastal city of Eyl in Nugal Region, adding, “as Pawan turns towards another coastal cities in the country, it is expected that the strength will decline.”
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in streets and the Eyl river to break its banks. Images shared on Social Media showed raging rivers, cars submerged in flood water and homes damaged by flooding.
Local media reported one fatality in Eyl and said that heavy rains and high winds destroyed 50 homes and caused damage to crops and farms across Nugal Region.
Pawan caused major disruption to flights to and from Garowe airport. Another person reportedly died at sea off the coast of Gardafuul Region.
Somali Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) said some areas in Puntland recorded “more than 3 times their long term mean annual rainfall during the storm.”
SWALIM added, “for instance, Eyl recorded a total of 260mm while Dangoroyo received 198mm in two days. Other stations that recorded notable amounts include Hasbahale (80mm), Garowe (85mm), Iskushuban (75mm), Qardo (48mm) and Buuhoodle (52mm)among others.”
Social Media
The aftermath of cylone Pawan made landfall and battered in parts of Puntland, affected coastal and rural areas. The floods swept away livestock, destroyed houses and cut off roads parts of Nugal and Mudug, regions. Relief is a necessity for those affected cyclone powan. pic.twitter.com/kELYaAzlaa
— Mohamed Osman (@Mohamed_Muumin) December 8, 2019
#Puntland state delays all flights at Garowe airport on Saturday, due to heavy rains in the region over the past hours. Initial reports say #Pawan cyclone has reached coastal area's in Northern #Somalia, Residents say floods swept a way number of vehicles & there is casualties. pic.twitter.com/cAHGJibmh5
— Mogadishu Update (@Magdashi3) December 7, 2019
Tropical cyclone #Pawan has made #landfall today in #northeast part of the #country. The #cyclone hit the coastal city of #Eyl in #Nugaal #Region. As Pawan turns towards another coastal cities in the country, it is expected that the strength will decline. pic.twitter.com/eJFoPw0Kyu
— Ministry of HA & DM (@MoHADM_Somalia) December 7, 2019
In the #Nugal region, especially in #Eyl town heavy rains and high winds destroyed 50 homes, and smashed 200 farms, residents told Puntland Mirror, adding a nomad child was dead due cold and floods swept away hundreds of livestock of rural families. pic.twitter.com/QIWeSOSO8c
— Puntland Mirror (@Puntlandmirror) December 8, 2019
In the #Gardafuu region, only one person died after a fishing boat capsized, officials of Puntland Ministry of Interior said.
— Puntland Mirror (@Puntlandmirror) December 8, 2019
