Mekunu cyclone hits Mahra coasts

MAHRA, May 25 (YPA) – The local authority in Yemen’s eastern province of Mahra declared the state of utmost emergency to ensure the safety of citizens after the tropical Mekunu cyclone hit the coasts of Hoof district on Friday.

Shiekh Rajeh Bakrit, the province’s governor, appointed by exiled outgoing Hadi, announced the full interruption of telecommunication networks and drinking water service and the collapse of some houses due to the strong winds caused by the cyclone.

Bakrit called on citizens to contact with the emergency service and not to leave their houses.

On Thursday, the tropical cyclone Mekunu strongly hit Socotra Island, leaving dozens of dead and 20 others missing, and sweeping away several villages.

During two days of the tropical storm, dozens of houses were destroyed, dozens of cars washed away and many boats capsized, and over 150 families were evacuated from two areas of the island and were sheltered in schools, according to the authorities.

The authorities said that 70 percent of the Island’s archipelago has been filled with floods, which make it impossible to reach it.

The storm also displaced more than 2600 families.

On Wednesday, the Mekunu caused the sinking of three ships off the coast of Socotra. Four members of the ships’ crews were survived and 16 were lost.

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