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Mozambique cyclone claims 4
10/03/2008 14:57 - (SA)
Maputo - Authorities in Mozambique have issued a red alert in several coastal districts as tropical cyclone Jokwe moves south through the Mozambique Channel after killing at least four people and injuring several others in the north.
Cyclone Jokwe hit northern Mozambique's Nampula province on Friday night at wind speeds of more than 200km per hour, killing four people and causing widespread damage, Mussa Mustafa, a spokesperson for the Meteorological Institute, said.
Radio Mozambique said eight people had been killed.
Nearly 2 000 homes were destroyed in Nampula and Zambezia and power lines had been severed, leaving many areas without electricity, according to Mustafa.
Of the four people initially confirmed dead, three died after a mosque collapsed in Mongicual district in Nampula province, while another was killed by a falling tree, a spokesperson for the national disaster management institute (INGC) said.
Parts of Zambezia, Nampula and Sofala provinces were on red alert as Jokwe moved south towards Inhambane and Gaza provinces.
The INGC said it would begin on Monday to distribute tents and food to about 25 000 people already affected by the storm.
The cyclone damage compounds the devastation wrought by the heaviest flooding in several years in central Mozambique in January and February caused by heavy seasonal rains.
More than 100 000 people had to evacuate their homes and moved to resettlement areas on higher ground, where many still remained.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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