A cyclone of hurricane intensity hit Yemen's southern coast on Tuesday, causing massive flooding in the war-torn port city of Mukalla.

BBC News reports thousands were forced to flee when Cyclone Chapala made landfall early Tuesday. It is believed to be the most powerful storm the country has seen in decades.

According to the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the storm had 103 mph winds when it landed just west of Mukalla.

The cyclone is expected to bring up to 20 inches of rain to the arid region, which generally receives about 2 inches annually.

The storm already passed over the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring several more.

Reports say the country is unprepared to take on the disaster. Yemen is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis due to a civil war between government forces and Houthi rebels.

Mukalla in particular was ill-equipped for the storm, as the city is under control by al-Qaida militants.

Mashable spoke with freelance reporter Iona Craig in Yemen about the crisis.

"There's was basically no preparedness," Craig said. "Al-Qaeda posted pictures in the hours before landfall of a team of rescue vehicles. In practice those won't heave been much help in floods."

According to Craig, the country's Ministry of Fisheries has reported 25 people injured and 21 missing. Over 50 homes have been reported destroyed as well.

Craig and others posted images of extreme flooding caused by Chapala.

Watch a video of the scene in Mukalla below.