Met department says cyclone still far off

Harare (New Ziana)- The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) on Thursday advised the public to be calm as a forecast cyclone is still a ‘tropical depression’ and ‘far off’.

This comes as a tropical cyclone which according to the MSD is yet to be named is expected to hit some parts of Chimanimani, Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands next week.

If the cyclone hits Chimanimani, this will be the second time the area would have been affected by a cyclone in 21 months, after Cyclone Idai left a trail of death, destruction and displacement of people in March 2019.

In a statement, the Met department said it would continue monitoring the situation.

“A, yet to be named, Tropical Depression is situated in a quasi-stationary position near the centre of the Indian Ocean, to the north east of Mauritius, to the far east of Madagascar.

“On Thursday December 24, 0200hrs it was near 14degress south and 60 degrees east and expected to track south-westward towards Madagascar in the coming days as it steadily intensifies (might later become a tropical storm then a Cyclone.

“The Meteorological Services Department will continue to monitor intensity as well as the trajectory and update the public accordingly,” said the Met Services Department.

New Ziana