Mozambique city battled climate change, then came a cyclone

SUMMARY

Long before Cyclone Idai roared in and tore apart Mozambique's seaside city of Beira, the mayor dreamed of protecting his people from climate change. But the cyclone that struck on March 14 brought a whole new level of pain to Beira, with images of destruction to chill any seaside nation already fearing for its survival.

By APMar 30, 2019 6:54:53 PM IST (Updated)

Beira Mayor Daviz Simango, right, pauses from directing disaster relief operations in Beira, Mozambique, Monday March 25, 2019. Simango dreamed about protecting his people from climate change with much of the city being below sea level on a coastline that experts call one of the world's most vulnerable to global warming's rising waters. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

Fishermen fish in a drainage canal in Beira Mozambique. The canal is part of a newly-completed anti-flooding system meant to protect the city against from rising waters. Long before Cyclone Idai roared in and tore Beira apart the mayor dreamed of protecting his people from adverse weather conditions. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A young boy sits on a fallen tree outside a school in Beira, Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

A family sit outside their home surrounded by water near Beira, Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

A family stand outside their submerged huts near Beira, Mozambique.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

A young girl walks through flood waters near Beira, Mozambique. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)