Friday May 24, 2024
FILE PHOTO - Merca beach
Mogadishu (HOL) — Seven children were swept away by the sea today in the coastal town of Merca, Lower Shabelle region, during a storm, according to witnesses. Two of the children were rescued and are in critical condition, while four others remain missing.
The children were enjoying their day off from school at the beach when they were swept away by the waves, according to Abdalla Bashir Abdi, a traditional elder in Merca. Two of the children are siblings.
The National Disaster Management Authority of Somalia has warned that the southern coastal regions are facing a strong storm named Lali, which has already affected parts of the East African coastline. "We are facing a difficult situation and working hard," said Mohamud Macallin, the agency's chairman, highlighting their limited equipment and the frequency of disasters.
Merca residents report that despite the government's warnings, they have yet to see a storm that is stronger than usual. Abdalla emphasized the importance of raising community awareness to prepare for the feared storm.
Typhoon Lali reportedly emerged from the Indian Ocean, near the Seychelles coast. The World Meteorological Department defines a severe storm as one that moves with great force and originates from the sea. Currently, currents in the Indian Ocean are stronger than usual.
Somalia is experiencing severe climate change effects, having recently endured the longest drought in forty years, which ended in 2022. East African countries are now facing their second typhoon this month.