page_title: Cyclone Sagar
section_title: Preparations and impact
hierarchical_section_title: Cyclone Sagar / Preparations and impact
caption_attribution_description: English: Cyclone Sagar shortly after landfall in Somaliland on May 19, 2018
context_page_description: Cyclonic Storm Sagar was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in Somalia in recorded history, and the first named cyclone of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Forming on May 16 east of the Guardafui Channel, Sagar intensified into a cyclonic storm on the next day, as it gradually organized. The storm turned to the west-southwest and traversed the entirety of the Gulf of Aden, making landfall over northwestern Somalia on May 19, farther west than any other storm on record in the North Indian Ocean. Sagar weakened into a remnant low on May 20.
  The storm first affected Yemen, brushing the coast with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. One person was killed when her house caught fire. In Somalia, Sagar dropped a years' worth of rainfall, or around 200 mm. The rains caused deadly flash flooding that washed away bridges, homes, and thousands of farm animals. Sagar killed 53 people throughout Somalia – 3 in Puntland, and 50 in Somaliland. In neighboring Djibouti, heavy rainfall killed two people and damaged 1,800 houses, forcing 3,000 people to leave their houses. Damage in the country reached US$30 million.
context_section_description: Along its rare trajectory through the Gulf of Aden, Cyclonic Storm Sagar affected Socotra and coastal Yemen, Somaliland (North-West Somalia), Djibouti, and Ethiopia. Strong winds from Sagar damaged houses on Yemen's mainland. Heavy rainfall along the coast caused isolated flooding, which damaged roads and electric infrastructure. Yemen's temporary capital Aden was hit by strong winds as tropical cyclone Sagar approached, prompting authorities to a call on residents to evacuate areas near the shore in the southern port city. An elderly woman was killed when her house caught fire near Aden.
  In Puntland and Somaliland in northern Somalia, officials warned residents about the storm on the radio and mobile communications. Mayors urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate. The Somaliland Coast Guard readied emergency vehicles in Zeila. Following a protracted drought, parts of eastern Africa experienced severe floods in the months before the storm's arrival.
  Beginning on May 17, Sagar dropped heavy rainfall in northern Somalia and Somaliland, in some parts up to a years' worth of rainfall, or around 200 mm (7.9 in). Although the rains alleviated drought conditions, Sagar also caused deadly flash flooding that carried away houses. In Awdal region, the storm displaced 2,590 people. Thousands of farmers faced food insecurity when the floods wrecked 700 farms, with 277 hectares (680 acres) of arable land destroyed. The floods killed 1,260 goats and sheep, 56 camels, and 19 donkeys. Floods damaged 39 schools and several facilities, and also washed out roads, especially in rural areas. Flash floods in Bari province killed three people. Two of the deaths were due to a bridge that was washed out. High waves washed away or damaged at least 65 boats. About 168,000 people were affected in the country. A total of 53 deaths were reported in Somalia as a result of the cyclone – 50 in Somaliland and 3 in Puntland.
  In Djibouti, northwest of Somalia, Sagar dropped a year's worth of rainfall, totaling 110 mm (4.3 in), which caused rivers to swell. Flooding damaged about 10,000 houses, with 2,000 of them severely damaged, which displaced 3,150 people. The rains flooded crops, streets, and buildings, catching residents off guard and killing at least two people. Infrastructure damage was estimated at US$30 million. 
  In the Somali Region of eastern Ethiopia, Sagar produced strong winds and heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding and landslides. Near the border of SNNPR and Oromia, a landslide killed 23 people. The storm damaged schools, health facilities, and houses, displacing 194,000 people. The village of Dambal was almost entirely washed away, affecting 150 households.
caption: Cyclone Sagar shortly after landfall in Somalia on May 19
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