Photos

Cyclone Chapala Makes Landfall in Yemen (PHOTOS)

1/59
Yemenis walk past the vehicles damaged by wind and heavy rain-caused floodwaters, as a result of Cyclone Chapala generated in the Arabian Sea, on the shore of Hadramout, Yemen on Nov. 03, 2015. (Resid bin Sebrak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

1/59
Yemenis walk past the vehicles damaged by wind and heavy rain-caused floodwaters, as a result of Cyclone Chapala generated in the Arabian Sea, on the shore of Hadramout, Yemen on Nov. 03, 2015. (Resid bin Sebrak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A rare tropical cyclone landfall has occurred along the coast of Yemen, as Cyclone Chapala moved across the Arabian Sea before slamming into the Middle Eastern nation.

The powerful storm dumped huge amounts of rain on an arid region that normally receives far less on an annual basis, which led to flooding and fears of rockslides. As a result, thousands were evacuated from the most vulnerable parts of coastal towns nearest to Chapala's landfall.

Satellite estimates show some areas near the coastline received as much as 8 or 9 inches of rainfall from Chapala. Those areas only get about 4 inches of rain per year, on average.

(MORE: The 10 Most Unusual Tropical Weather Events of 2015)

Before the storm hit mainland Yemen, it dealt a severe blow to the island of Socotra, located some 200 miles to the southeast. The storm's effects killed at least three people on the island and left 200 or more injured, according to Emirates 24/7.

According to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, three people, an adult and two children, were killed in Al Mukalla, near where the storm made landfall in mainland Yemen, when their home reportedly collapsed. Another five people were killed when they drowned in the Hadramaut region.

“We have reports from Mukalla of very severe flooding, and locals report that the water level has risen by about nine meters (about 30 feet),” Sebastian Rhodes-Stampa, senior humanitarian officer for the UN’s emergency aid coordination body, told IRIN.

As the images roll in, we will frequently update the gallery at the top of this page, so check back often as we bring you photos that further tell the story of a cyclone's impact on an area that isn't used to this kind of extreme weather.