Cyclone Dineo ravages Mozambique

A tropical storm has killed at least seven people in Mozambique and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.

According to the country’s National Disaster Management Institute, the cyclone dubbed Dineo, has brought heavy rain and winds of up to 160 km an hour raising the risk of flooding and crop damage.

Furthermore, about 130,000 people have been affected by the storm.

“Initial reports show that four people have lost their lives, three of whom were fatally hit by broken coconut trees. At this moment, there are approximately fourteen injured people, none of them in serious conditions. From what we can see almost all infrastructure, including government buildings, have been damaged. Almost all buildings are partially or completely without roofs. And the schools have also partially or totally lost their roofs, and their windows were blown away. Electricity posts have been knocked down. Trees have fallen but these are preliminary evaluations,” said Mozambique’s National Disaster Management Institute representative, Acacio Thembe.

Experts said the storm should weaken as it moves over land, but that it could still bring heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, the cyclone reached South Africa on Thursday. A number of provinces are expected to experience heavy rain and strong winds this weekend.

In regards to this, South Africa’s Disaster Management Centre has urged communities to remain alert because localised flooding can be determined by a number of factors.

Reuters