Cyclones Hidaya &  Laly : About Pemba Island

 Why in News ? Barely two weeks after Cyclone Hidaya struck the East African coastline, Cyclone Laly  has recntly wreaked havoc in the region killing two people in Kenya and impacting dozens in Somalia.

• Cyclone Laly, which intensified from a tropical storm, unleashed strong winds, heavy rain and high waves across the West Indian Ocean region.
• In Somalia, the cyclone made landfall in the southwestern and southern regions, including the capital, Mogadishu.
• Tropical Storm Laly intensified into a tropical cyclone, marking a historic event in the southwest Indian Ocean basin. Positioned just 250 kilometres from Pemba Island and less than 300 km from Mombasa, it’s a rare occurrence within this latitude range.

About Pemba Island :

• It is a beautiful island located in the Zanzibar Archipelago, off the coast of East Africa, belonging to Tanzania.
• Pemba is known for its lush, green hills, clove plantations, and beautiful beaches. The Pemba Channel, with its coral reefs and abundant marine life, separates the island from mainland Tanzania.
• The population of Pemba Island is about 400,000 people.
• The majority of the population is Swahili, with a significant minority of Arabs and Indians. The main religion on the island is Islam.