Cyclone Belna
{{short description|South-West Indian cyclone in 2019}}
{{Distinguish|Cyclone Bella}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Tropical Cyclone Belna
| image = Tropical Cyclone Belna 2019 110000 UTC.jpg
| caption = Belna strengthening over Seychelles on 7 December
| alt = Satellite image of Belna showing a ragged eye and well-defined rainbands
| formed = {{start date|2019|12|5|df=yes}}
| remnant = 10 December 2019
| dissipated = {{end date|2019|12|11|df=yes}}
}}
{{Infobox weather event/MF
| winds = 85
| gusts = 120
| pressure = 965
}}
{{Infobox weather event/JTWC
| winds = 100
| pressure = 962
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2019
| damage-prefix = >
| damage = 25000000
| fatalities = 2 total
| areas = Seychelles, Mayotte, Comoros, Madagascar
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = 2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season
}}
Tropical Cyclone Belna was a strong tropical cyclone that made landfall over northwestern Madagascar in December 2019, becoming the first to do so since Hellen in 2014. Belna's precursor—an initially broad trough of low pressure west of Seychelles—was formally designated as a zone of disturbed weather on 2 December during a favourable period for tropical cyclogenesis in the Indian Ocean. The disturbance gradually developed over the course of several days, tracking slowly westward. Météo-France (MFR) upgraded the system to a tropical depression on 5 December and then to a tropical storm later that day. Belna reached tropical cyclone strength on 7 December as it began to turn towards the southwest, peaking with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|155|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} before fluctuating in intensity over the following day as it passed just east of Mayotte. On 9 December, Belna restrengthened and reattained its peak winds upon making landfall near Soalala along the northwestern coast of Madagascar. The cyclone weakened before ultimately dissipating over southern Madagascar on 11 December.
In the French overseas department of Mayotte, up to 15,000 people relocated to shelters in advance of the storm. Several of the department's services, including the main airport and ferries, were suspended. The cyclone ultimately passed {{cvt|100|km|mi}} east of Mayotte with only minor impacts. Northern Madagascar was impacted by heavy rains from Belna. Soalala and Antsiranana experienced extensive flooding. Strong winds in Soalala damaged the roofs of 80% of homes and government offices. In total, there were nine fatalities and over 2,000 injuries associated with Belna. Damage in Madagascar is estimated at US$25 million.{{Cite web|url=http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20200122-if-natcat2020.pdf|title=2019 Whole Year Catastrophe Recap|last=|first=|date=22 January 2020|website=AON Thought Leadership|publisher=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122154950/http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20200122-if-natcat2020.pdf |archive-date=22 January 2020 |access-date=}}
Meteorological history
{{Storm path|Belna 2019 track.png}}
File:Ambali, Belna, and Pawan 2019-12-06 0600Z.jpg, Belna, and Ambali]]
MFR began highlighting the potential for tropical cyclone development in their daily bulletins on 25 November, noting an increase in shower activity west of Seychelles.{{cite report|title=Bulletin Sur L'Activité Cyclonique et les Conditions Meteorologiques Tropicales Sur le Sud-Ouest de L'Ocean Indien: Le 25/11/2019 a 1200 UTC |type=Tropical Bulletin|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITF_201911251150.pdf |website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=28 November 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=25 November 2019}} Aided by the passage of a Kelvin wave and a favourable window in the Madden–Julian oscillation, a broad trough of low pressure began to take shape within the storm activity, extending across the equator.{{cite report|title=Bulletin Sur L'Activité Cyclonique et les Conditions Meteorologiques Tropicales Sur le Sud-Ouest de L'Ocean Indien: Le 27/11/2019 a 1200 UTC |type=Tropical Bulletin|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITF_201911271110.pdf |website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=28 November 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=27 November 2019}} Projections from computer models remained in disagreement over the system's future, complicated by the concurrent development of a tropical disturbance in the northwestern Indian Ocean along the same trough.{{cite report|title=Bulletin Sur L'Activité Cyclonique et les Conditions Meteorologiques Tropicales Sur le Sud-Ouest de L'Ocean Indien: Le 28/11/2019 a 1200 UTC |type=Tropical Bulletin|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITF_201911281114.pdf |website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=28 November 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=28 November 2019}} A loosely-defined wind circulation was detected {{cvt|263|km|mi}} south of Mahe, Seychelles on 29 November, offset from convection.{{cite report|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (29 November 0330 UTC) |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii |date=28 November 2019}} Over the following days, this circulation tightened within an environment moderately conducive for tropical development.{{cite report|title=Bulletin Sur L'Activité Cyclonique et les Conditions Meteorologiques Tropicales Sur le Sud-Ouest de L'Ocean Indien: Le 01/12/2019 a 1200 UTC |type=Tropical Bulletin|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITF_201912011215.pdf |website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=1 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=1 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (30 November 1800 UTC) |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center|location=Pearl Harbor, Hawaii |date=30 November 2019}} Météo-France declared the system as a zone of disturbed weather on 2 December; at the time the system had drifted west from its point of origin.{{cite web |title=Cyclone 02-20192020|url=http://www.meteofrance.re/cyclone/saison-en-cours/dirre/BELNA|website=Saison en cours sur le sud-Ouest de l'Océan Indien |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=3 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French}} Although the storm was better organised and the environment conducive for intensification, the storm's wind field initially remained elongated and rainfall remained north of the storm's centre.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 2/2/20192020 a Zone Perturbée 2 |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912040000_2_2_20192020.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=4 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=4 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 4/2/20192020 a Perturbation Tropicale 2 |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912041200_4_2_20192020.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=4 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=4 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone 02S (Two) Warning NR 001 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |date=4 December 2019|type=Tropical Cyclone Warning|url=https://www.gdacs.org/gts.aspx?eventid=1000639&eventtype=TC|via=Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System|access-date=5 December 2019}} The disturbance became a tropical depression on 5 December, attended by an increase in rainbands and the return of convection at the centre of circulation;{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 6/2/20192020 a Depression Tropicale 2 |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912050000_6_2_20192020.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=5 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=5 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 7/2/20192020 a Depression Tropicale 2 |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912050600_7_2_20192020.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=5 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=5 December 2019}} at 18:00 UTC that day, the system was upgraded to Moderate Tropical Storm Belna.
Belna was upgraded to severe tropical storm status early on 6 December. Around the same time, a cloud-obscured eye briefly became apparent in microwave satellite imagery. Due to a strengthening area of high pressure to its east, Belna began to curve from its initial westward drift to a more directed southwestward trajectory.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 11/2/20192020 a Forte Tempete Tropicale Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912060600_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=7 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=6 December 2019}} After a brief period of strengthening, Belna's central dense overcast remained largely unchanged throughout 6 December before signs of resumed intensification emerged by the day's end, followed by the development of another eye {{cvt|9|–|19|km|mi|abbr=on}} across.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 13/2/20192020 a Forte Tempete Tropicale Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912061800_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=7 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=6 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 14/2/20192020 a Forte Tempete Tropicale Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912070000_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=7 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=7 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone 02S (Belna) Warning NR 006 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |date=7 December 2019|type=Tropical Cyclone Warning|url=https://www.gdacs.org/gts.aspx?eventid=1000639&eventtype=TC|via=Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System|access-date=7 December 2019}} With the storm's eye becoming better defined, MFR upgraded Belna to a tropical cyclone early on 7 December. Hot towers were detected atop and within the storm's radius of maximum winds, suggesting the onset of a more accelerated rate of intensification.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 15/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912070600_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=7 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=7 December 2019}} However, the presence of dry air in the mid-levels of the troposphere towards the storm's southeastern quadrant prevented Belna from developing considerably.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 16/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912071200_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=8 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=7 December 2019}} At 18:00 UTC on 7 December, Belna's winds topped out at {{convert|155|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} before fluctuating at a slightly lower strength over the ensuing day. The system's structure disorganised significantly in a short period, caused by both the dry air and northerly wind shear.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 18/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912080000_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=8 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=8 December 2019}}
The cyclone's structure varied considerably throughout 8 December, at times featuring a small eye surrounded by intense lightning activity and at other times degrading in response to an intrusion of dry air into the Belna's circulation.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 20/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912081200_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=9 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=8 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 21/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912081800_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=9 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=8 December 2019}} Belna's strength was highly variable in part due to its small size, making it susceptible to changes in the local atmospheric environment and complicating forecasts.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 22/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912090000_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=9 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=9 December 2019}} On 9 December, a new phase of intensification began as Belna approached the Madagascar coast near Soalala, with an eye becoming apparent on visible satellite imagery.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 24/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912091200_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=9 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=9 December 2019}} In its advisories, the MFR noted a "spectacular intensification spell" in the hours leading up to Belna's landfall on Madagascar, assessing the cyclone's winds at {{convert|155|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} and the pressure at {{convert|965|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}–the lowest analysed over the course of the storm's existence—as Belna moved ashore at 15:30 UTC on 9 December. The storm then began to weaken as it tracked farther inland, parallelling the western coast of Madagascar.{{cite report|title=Bulletin D'Analyse et de Prévision Cyclonique (Sud-Ouest Ocean Indien): 25/2/20192020 a Cyclone Tropical Belna |url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/cmrs/CMRSF_201912091800_BELNA.pdf|website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=9 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=9 December 2019}} By 12:00 UTC the next day, Belna's winds had tapered below tropical depression thresholds, though the storm retained a well-defined wind circulation with tightly packed rainbands.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone 02S (Belna) Warning NR 012 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |date=10 December 2019|type=Tropical Cyclone Warning|url=https://www.gdacs.org/gts.aspx?eventid=1000639&eventtype=TC|via=Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System|access-date=10 December 2019}} Belna curved towards the southeast over Madagascar, and deep convection associated with the cyclone dissipated on 11 December.{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone 02S (Belna) Warning NR 013 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |date=10 December 2019|type=Tropical Cyclone Warning|url=https://www.gdacs.org/gts.aspx?eventid=1000639&eventtype=TC|via=Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System|access-date=11 December 2019}}{{cite report|title=Tropical Cyclone 02S (Belna) Warning NR 014 |publisher=United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center |date=10 December 2019|type=Tropical Cyclone Warning|url=https://www.gdacs.org/gts.aspx?eventid=1000639&eventtype=TC|via=Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System|access-date=11 December 2019}} MFR issued their last update on the system later that day while the centre was over Haute Matsiatra, while the remnant circulation centre associated with Belna was last noted in MFR's bulletins on 14 December.{{cite report|title=Bulletin Sur L'Activité Cyclonique et les Conditions Meteorologiques Tropicales Sur le Sud-Ouest de L'Ocean Indien: Le 14/12/2019 a 1200 UTC |type=Tropical Bulletin|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/francais/activiteope/bulletins/zcit/ZCITF_201912141143.pdf |website=Liste des bulletins ZCIT |publisher=Météo-France La Réunion |accessdate=25 December 2019 |location=Saint-Denis, Réunion |language=French |date=14 December 2019}}
Preparations and impact
=Comoros and Mayotte=
A cyclone pre-alert was issued for Mayotte on 6 December,{{cite news |last1=Rakotondravola |first1=Andry |title=Mayotte en Pré-alerte Cyclonique |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/mayotte-pre-alerte-cyclonique-778625.html |accessdate=6 December 2019 |agency=France TV |date=6 December 2019 |language=French}} succeeded by an orange and later red alert the following day.{{cite news |title=Belna : Mayotte en alerte orange |url=http://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2019/12/07/cyclone-cyclone,111764.html |accessdate=7 December 2019 |agency=Imaz Press Réunion |publisher=IPReunion.com |date=7 December 2019}}{{cite news |title=Cyclone Belna To Make Landfall, Indian Ocean Island Mayotte On Red Alert |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/cyclone-belna-to-make-landfall-indian-ocean-island-mayotte-on-red-alert-2145405 |accessdate=8 December 2019 |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=NDTV Convergence Limited |date=8 December 2019}} Comoros was placed under an orange alert during Belna's passage. Civil security personnel from mainland France and Reunion, some from the National Gendarmerie, were sent to Mayotte to aid storm preparation efforts there.{{cite news |title=Mayotte. Le cyclone Belna se renforce et se fait plus menaçant |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/catastrophes/ouragan/mayotte-le-cyclone-belna-se-renforce-et-se-fait-plus-menacant-6641984 |accessdate=7 December 2019 |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=Ouest-France |date=6 December 2019 |language=French}}{{cite news|title=Belna est désormais un cyclone, Mayotte se prépare [Synthèse] |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/belna-est-desormais-cyclone-mayotte-se-prepare-synthese-779197.html |accessdate=7 December 2019 |agency=France TV |date=7 December 2019 |language=French}} Shelters were opened in several Mayotte communes on 7 December to facilitate mandatory evacuations declared by Mayotte Prefect Jean-François Colombet;{{cite news |last1=Perzo |first1=Anne |title=Cyclone Belna : les lieux d'hébergement d'urgence par commune (Actualisé) |url=https://lejournaldemayotte.yt/2019/12/07/cyclone-belna-les-lieux-dhebergement-durgence-par-commune/ |accessdate=7 December 2019 |agency=Le Journal de Mayotte |publisher=LeJournalDeMayotte.com |date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207195717/https://lejournaldemayotte.yt/2019/12/07/cyclone-belna-les-lieux-dhebergement-durgence-par-commune/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Belna : le cyclone devrait passer à 80 km à l'Est de Mayotte à 19h|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/belna-cyclone-devrait-passer-80-km-est-mayotte-779463.html |accessdate=8 December 2019 |agency=France TV |date=8 December 2019 |language=French}} approximately 10,000–15,000 people relocated to shelters in Mayotte.{{cite news |title=L'alerte rouge levée à Mayotte après le passage du cyclone Belna |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/12/08/mayotte-placee-en-alerte-rouge-a-l-approche-du-cyclone-tropical-belna_6022100_3212.html |accessdate=9 December 2019 |work=Le Monde |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=LeMonde.fr |date=9 December 2019 |language=French}} Several shelters housed over a thousand evacuees.{{cite news|title=BBELNA à Mayotte |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/belna-mayotte-778813.html |accessdate=9 December 2019 |agency=France TV |date=9 December 2019 |language=French}} To preserve the integrity of the department's water systems, water distribution was suspended. Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport and Mayotte's roads were closed ahead of the storm. Regular ferry service between Petite-Terre and Grande-Terre was also suspended. Belna ultimately passed {{cvt|100|km|mi}} east of Mayotte on the morning of 9 December, with impacts on the island mitigated further by the storm's small size.
=Madagascar=
Météo Madagascar first issued green alerts for Madagascan districts in Diana, Sava, and Sofia on 4 December based on a high probability of Belna impacting northeastern Madagascar. Accordingly, cyclone response measures were activated by the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) and humanitarian organisations across northern Madagascar.{{cite web |title=Southern Africa: Low-pressure system (Flash Update No. 1) |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Southern%20Africa%20-%20Low-pressure%20system%20-%20Flash%20Update%20No.%201%20%28As%20of%2004%20December%202019%29.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=4 December 2019 |date=4 December 2019}} By 9 December, 11 humanitarian agencies were active in northern parts of the country. Green alerts were later extended to encompass five districts,{{cite web |title=Southern Africa: Ambali & Belna Cyclones (Flash Update No. 2) |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20191206_SouthernAfrica_CyclonesAmbali%26Belna_FlashUpdate%232.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=7 December 2019 |date=6 December 2019}} and red alerts were eventually issued to all districts in Boeny and Melaky.{{cite news |title=Madagascar se prépare à l'arrivée de "Belna", premier cyclone de la saison |url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20191208-madagascar-preparatifs-cyclone-belna |accessdate=9 December 2019 |agency=Radio France Internationale |publisher=RFI.fr |date=9 December 2019 |language=French}} Schools were closed along Madagascar's western coast. Three teams from the BNGRC tasked with emergency coordination and medicine distribution were dispatched to Mahajanga, Morondava, and Toliara. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies initiated a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund in response to Belna on 9 December, allocating CHF146,491 to 2,500 people within at-risk areas.{{cite web |title=Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Belna Emergency Action Plan (EPoA) DREF Operation: MDRMG015 / PMG034 |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/madagascar-tropical-cyclone-belna-emergency-action-plan-epoa-dref-operation |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies |accessdate=10 December 2019 |date=9 December 2019}}
Approximately 2,900 Malagasy were affected by Belna.{{cite report|title=Madagascar: Humanitarian Snapshot - December 2019 |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Madagascar_Humanitarian%20Snapshot_19Dec2019_EN.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=25 December 2019 |date=17 December 2019}} Heavy rains and strong winds impacted Boeny ahead of the storm.{{cite web |title=Southern Africa: Cyclone Belna - Flash Update No. 3 (As of 9 December 2019) |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20191209_SouthernAfrica_CyclonesBelna_FlashUpdate%233.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=9 December 2019 |date=9 December 2019}} Belna's rainbands began affecting the Diana region on 7 December. Low-lying areas of Antsiranana were flooded, inundating entire neighbourhoods.{{cite news |last1=Antonia |first1=Mamisoa |title=Cyclone Belna: La ville d'Antsiranana inodée |url=https://lexpress.mg/09/12/2019/cyclone-belna-la-ville-dantsiranana-inondee/ |accessdate=10 December 2019 |agency=L'Express de Madagascar |publisher=LExpress.mg |date=9 December 2019}} Most of Soalala, where Belna made landfall, was flooded. Homes and government buildings were damaged in the city,{{cite news |title=El ciclón tropical 'Belna' toca tierra en el noroeste de Madagascar y provoca inundaciones |url=https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-ciclon-tropical-belna-toca-tierra-noroeste-madagascar-provoca-inundaciones-20191209181854.html |accessdate=10 December 2019 |agency=Europa Press |publisher=Europa Press |date=9 December 2019 |language=Spanish}} including 650 homes. Strong winds damaged the roofs of 80% of residences and government offices. Damage to homes displaced 1,400 people, forcing them to seek refuge in mosques, offices, and schools. Outside of Soalala, 900 others were rendered homeless.{{cite web |title=Southern Africa: Cyclone Belna - Flash Update No. 5 (As of 12 December 2019) |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20191211_SouthernAfrica_CycloneBelna_FlashUpdate%235.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=11 December 2019 |date=11 December 2019}} The city's hospital was inundated with seawater following the collapse of a protective dyke.{{cite web |title=Southern Africa: Cyclone Belna - Flash Update No. 4 (As of 10 December 2019) |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20191210_SouthernAfrica_CycloneBelna_FlashUpdate%234.pdf |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |accessdate=11 December 2019 |date=10 December 2019}} Another 55 buildings were damaged in the Diana Region and 22 in the Melaky Region.{{cite web |title=European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/madagascar-tropical-cyclone-belna-update-gdacs-meteo-madagascar-fewsnet-floodlist |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations |accessdate=13 December 2019 |format=PDF |date=13 December 2019}} {{As of|2019|12|10}}, two deaths and three missing persons were reported;{{cite news |last1=Tetaud |first1=Sarah |title=Cyclone hits Madagascar, killing 9 and making 1,400 homeless |url=https://apnews.com/64af1a7ef302d9445ac7c8656deeda74 |accessdate=10 December 2019 |work=Associated Press News |publisher=The Associated Press |date=10 December 2019}} another 2,693 were injured.{{cite web |title=European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/madagascar/madagascar-tropical-cyclone-belna-update-gdacs-bngrc-un-ocha-noaa-echo-daily-flash |website=ReliefWeb |publisher=European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations |accessdate=13 December 2019 |format=PDF |date=12 December 2019}} In the storm's aftermath, the BNGRC provisioned food and relief supplies to Mahajanga.
See also
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
- Cyclone Bondo – made landfall near Mahajanga, killing 11
- Cyclone Fame – struck northwestern Madagascar at a similar intensity
- Cyclone Hellen – slow-moving storm that brought flooding rainfall to Mayotte and northwestern Madagascar
- Cyclone Herold
- Tropical cyclones in 2019
- Weather of 2019
References
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{{2019–20 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season buttons}}
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