Cyclones impacts in Socotra Archipelago,YemenPhoto gallery

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In November 2015, two rare cyclones hit Yemen’s World Heritage listed Socotra Archipelago within eight days.

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Such intense storms are extremely rare in this region of the Indian Ocean in the Arabian Sea.

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The two cyclones, Chapala and Megh, completely demolished 1,500 houses and damaged a further 2,300 homes.

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A total of 18 people lost their lives, while an estimated 200 were injured and 4,000 were displaced.

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The storms eroded soil and uprooted many rare plants that are only found on Socotra, including the iconic dragon's blood tree.

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Infrastructures such as roads, electricity and water facilities were badly damaged or destroyed.

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The first cyclone, Chapala, forced the evacuation of about 18,000 people – more than a third of Socotra Island’s population

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An estimated 15,000 palm trees, which are considered a source of income for the local population, were uprooted.

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Soil erosion has damaged pasture areas by stripping vegetation from the grounds and a huge number of goats perished.

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The powerful waves generated by Chapala wreaked havoc on Socotra's marine ecosystem, breaking parts of the coral reef.

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Socotra's diverse marine life, including coral, coastal fish, shark and invertebrate species, was severely affected by both cyclones.

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Flash floods and landslides triggered by excessive rainfalls may have further contributed to coral reef damage.

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