Tropical Cyclone Tej Hits Yemen, Kills 5, Displaces Thousands

Tropical Cyclone Tej wreaked havoc in Yemen’s eastern province of Al Mahrah after making landfall on Monday, leaving at least five people dead and displacing over a thousand families, according to an anonymous government official.

The Yemen Red Crescent Society said on the X platform that 1,800 families had been displaced.

Heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds have lashed large areas since Monday. The death toll rose when homes collapsed in the Huswain district; dozens were injured from 10 other collapsed homes.

Rashad Al-Alimi, the chief of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, along with other officials, arrived in Al Mahrah to supervise the emergency response. They are focusing on minimizing damage and caring for those in shelters, the state-run Saba news agency reports. The Yemeni Meteorological Center warned that heavy rain will continue in the coming hours, advising locals to take caution. The cyclone exacerbates the plight of a nation already grappling with over nine years of conflict between government forces and Houthi rebels.