Death toll rising in disastrous hurricane off of South East Africa

[hurricanehink]

The death toll is at 788 right now, mostly in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

[hurricanehink]

If a hurricane happens and nobody cares, did it really happen?

Yes, scientists have been meticulously tracking tropical cyclones worldwide for decades. It’s important to know the historical record for context. Cyclone Idai was among the deadliest tropical cyclones on record. It also was one of nine intense cyclones (basically the equivalent to a major hurricane) in its annual cyclone season. This cyclone will not be forgotten. Although it got scant mention in the US, its impacts will be felt for years.

[hurricanehink]

It matters because we’re talking human lives, which can be an abstract concept when discussing politics. Cyclone Idai’s death toll is at 958, making it the 3rd deadliest in the entire southern hemisphere. It compares to Mozambique’s worst disaster, which was in early 2000, when weeks of flooding preceded Cyclone Eline, together killing 700 people in Mozambique. Idai has killed 598 in Mozambique, and the death toll is still rising.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7363 - here is satellite imagery showing floods in Mozambique eight days after the storm struck.