A tropical storm has hit the Cape Verde islands bringing with it torrential rain. The island of São Vicente appears to have been the worst affected. This has resulted in significant damage to people, property and infrastructure. The storm battered São Vicente in the early hours of Monday 11 August. It is reported that there have been injuries and 9 deaths, which is very sad to hear. The roads were turned into rivers and some have been washed away. It is apparently not possible to get from Mindelo and São Pedro where the airport is located. Cars have been damaged, swept way or crushed and structures have collapsed. Power cuts have added to this difficult situation. The Minister of Internal Administration, Paulo Rocha has declared a situation of calamity (situação de calamidade) on the island. It was reported that 163mm of rain fell in just one hour on São Vicente. It will be a massive task clearing up and getting things back to near normal.

Storms of this magnitude rarely hit the Cape Verde islands. Normally, they form, south of the archipelago and then head towards the Americas, gaining in strength as they go. It is some years since the country experienced one of this magnitude. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) had forecast strong winds and rain. If the storm becomes stronger as it moves west, it could be named tropical storm Erin. Reports that we have received indicate that the eastern islands such as Sal and Maio got away lightly. It is the north western islands that have been badly affected – São Vicente, São Nicolau and Santo Antão. Generally, rain is welcomed in Cape Verde, but not when it brings such devastation.