Tropical cyclone may hit Moz
2008-02-18 11:34
Maputo - An intense tropical cyclone is threatening to strike already flood-hit Mozambique on Tuesday, the country's National Meteorological Institute (INAM) said on Monday.
INAM said in a statement that Cyclone Ivan, a category 4 storm, had strengthened over the Indian Ocean and was likely to cause damage when it reached the coast.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely before we issue an alert," it said.
INAM said Cyclone Ivan had gathered winds of up to 90 miles per hour and was just 340 miles (547km) east of the Mozambican channel and could strengthen further.
Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi had been lashed by heavy rain for several weeks, causing swollen rivers to burst their banks and forcing thousands of villagers to flee flooded homes.
Mozambique's worst disaster in recent memory took place in 2000-2001 after a series of cyclones worsened widespread flooding in southern and central parts of the country, killing 700 people and driving close to half a million from their homes.