Cyclone Fantala Hits Farquhar

On 17 April 2016, Farquhar Cyclone Fantala, a Category 5 (the highest level) severe cyclone and strongest ever to have been developed over the southwest Indian Ocean basin since records began. Fantala caused extensive damage to IDC property and assets on the atoll. The Seychelles Government has declared Farquhar a disaster zone. 

Cyclone Fantala began life as a tropical disturbance with central pressure of 1003 hPa around 12.7° South, 62.7° East on 11 April 2016. The Seychelles National Meteorological Services (SNMS) issued its first advisory bulletin after receiving the information from the Regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Météo-France La Reunion (RSMC La Reunion).  ​​The tropical disturbance then deepened rapidly as a tropical cyclone as it moved towards the outer islands of Seychelles, developing further into an intense tropical cyclone before hitting Farquhar. At that time the estimated central pressure had decreased to 910 hPa and the wind speed reached between 300 to 350 km per hour. Every building except the cyclone shelter was destroyed or severely damaged.  Fantala then moved northwest of Farquhar, but made a u-turn and the atoll a second time on Tuesday 19 April, albeit at a lower wind speed estimated at 140 to 160 km per hour.