Over 100 families evacuated from fishing villages in Sindh

Though Cyclone Kyarr has diminished in intensity, high tides have caused flooding in villages along Karachi’s coast

KARACHI: The very severe cyclone, Kyarr, which formed in the Arabian Sea on October 25, earlier this month, has diminished in intensity, with Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz claiming that it has been downgraded to a Category 4 cyclone as opposed to the initial Category 5.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department also reiterated in its latest advisory that the ‘super cyclonic storm’ does not pose any risk to the coastal areas of Pakistan. Nevertheless, at least 100 families living in coastal villages had to be evacuated to nearby schools and other public facilities as the rising tide caused the seawater to enter their homes.

Latest position

According to the seventh advisory issued by the PMD, Cyclone Kyarr is centered in the middle of the Arabian Sea at a distance of 730 kilometres from Karachi and 665kms from Gwadar.

The advisory added that the cyclone was likely to move further to the northwest, before turning into the southwest direction. It added that though there was no imminent risk to the coastal belt, strong winds and high tides were expected to affect the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

According to Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz, with the intensity of the cyclone decreasing, the speed of winds, which was earlier recorded at 270kms per hour, has also decreased. He added that the western system will affect the cyclonic storm today (Wednesday), as a result of which light to moderate rain is expected in Karachi, Thatta and Badin as well as Balochistan’s coastal area of Makran.

According to Sarfaraz, the cyclone is continuously moving towards Oman while it will turn south-west today (Wednesday), after which it will enter the Gulf of Aden and may hit the Socotra Island on November 3.

Ban on fishing

The latest advisory has again warned the fishermen to avoid venturing out into the open sea for fishing. Fishing launches at different jetties of Karachi have been restricted from setting off for fishing expeditions for the next three days as the tides may get extraordinarily high.

Cyclone Kyarr 730km from Karachi, no direct threat to any coastal area of Pakistan

The tides have been predicted by the Met department to rise up to 10 feet in the night and early morning. According to the Met department, citizens should avoid visiting beaches and residents living along the coast should take precautionary measures.

Flooding

Meanwhile, seawater entered homes in Rehri Goth, Lath Basti and Chashma Goth on Monday night and Tuesday morning due to the storm and high tides. According to Coastal Media Cell of Ibrahim Hyderi, different jetties in the surroundings of Ibrahim Hyderi have submerged, adding to the fishermen’s difficulties. The sea level has risen near the islands close to Keamari including Shams Pir, Kika Pir, Baba Bhitt Island and others.

According to the Fishermen Cooperative Society, fishing launches anchored near the floating jetty of Karachi Fish Harbour swayed over several feet-high tides while a flood-like situation was created as a result of the seawater entering residential areas like Malkani and Bil Mohalla in Rairhi Goth. The sea water entered even those houses that are built on raised ground. FCS officials said that its volunteers and workers visited the affected areas and shifted more than 100 affected families to nearby schools and colleges.

Fishermen Cooperative Society’s Harbour Security in-charge Nasir Boneri said that they had also requested the Maritime Security Agency late on Tuesday night for assistance in the rescue operation.

It’s all fun and games

Meanwhile, even as residents of coastal villages struggled to keep sea water from entering their homes, Karachi’s citizens flocked to the beaches to witness the situation for themselves.

Hundreds of citizens, armed with cameras, arrived at the Sea View beach and Do Dariya to take pictures of the rough waves.

According to the Met dept, this is the first storm of this magnitude since 2007. The weather is expected to remain cloudy for the next two days.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2019.