Mozambique activates red alert in the north and centre of Mozambique following bad weather and arrival of Tropical #CycloneIdai.
At least 10 deaths reported, 10,512 people displaced, and 62,975 people were affected by the floods in Zambézia, Tete and Niassa provinces;#cheiasmoz pic.twitter.com/HrT3HZCbGB— UNICEF Moçambique (@UNICEF_Moz) March 12, 2019
In neighbouring Malawi, floods have already claimed 45 lives and left over 230,000 people without shelter.
Malawi’s Meteorological Department has warned of more rains and flooding in the country’s south between Thursday and Sunday.
In Mozambique, 111 people have been injured, 18 hospitals destroyed, 938 classrooms destroyed and 9,763 students affected.
More than 168,000 hectares (415,000 acres) of crops were destroyed, the government spokeswoman added.
Authorities have ordered the compulsory evacuation of people living in flood-prone areas.
“Sixteen accommodation centres have been opened in the provinces of Zambezia and Tete to accommodate the displaced,” Comoana said.
“The government needs 1.1 billion meticais ($16 million) to assist 80,000 families affected by the rains”.
Mozambique is prone to extreme weather events. Floods in 2000 claimed at least 800 lives while more than 100 were killed in 2015.
Article sourced from TimesLIVE