Cyclone may hit tourist resorts
11/03/2008 11:11  - (SA)  

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Mozambique cyclone claims 4 Cyclone hits Mozambique Cyclone Jokwe heads to Moz Cyclone kills 22 in Madagascar Tropical cyclone may hit Moz

Maputo - After suffering the destruction of cyclone Favio last year, the tourist resort of Vilankulo is set to bear the brunt of cyclone Jokwe, say authorities.

Joao Riberio of the national disaster management institute (INGC) said that cyclone Jokwe - which had claimed more than ten lives since it hit Mozambique last Saturday - was expected to reach the coastal districts of Inhambane province by Wednesday.

He said districts of Govuro and Vilankulo - where some of the country's top tourism establishments were located - were expected to be affected by the cyclone as from Wednesday.

"INGC has sent out teams to advise people on measures they should take if the cyclone hits," he said.

Hotels, lodges 'fully-booked'

In February 2007, Cyclone Favio - propelled by winds travelling at 270km per hour - left a trail of destruction after it hit the Govuro and Vilankulo districts.

Cyclone Favio killed at least 10 people while several others were injured and buildings were destroyed. Tourism establishments closed after they were severely hit by the cyclone, but reopened in August 2007.

Most resorts in Govuro and Vilankulo districts were owned by South African investors.

And most lodges and hotels in Vilankulo and Govuro were fully-booked by South African tourists for the forthcoming Easter holidays.

Ribeiro said authorities had placed the districts on yellow alert and emergency staff had also been placed on alert. Owners of boats had been advised to remove their vessels from the ocean.

Cyclone 'to bring more rain'

He, however, said authorities were not immediately considering evacuating people.

Ribeiro said the cyclone had claimed six lives in the central provinces of Zambezia, after it hit the coastal district of Pebane on Sunday.

Radio Mozambique reported on Tuesday that the number of people who died as a result of the cyclone had increased to 10 in the northern province of Nampula.

Cyclone Jokwe is currently located in the central parts of the Mozambican Channel and is heading from southern Mozambique, where it is expected to hit the provinces of Sofala and Inhambane.

The national weather service (INAM) said in a weather report issued on Tuesday that the cyclone is located 500km from the coast and is expected to bring more rains to the coastal districts.

The same districts are currently battling flooding.

- SAPA

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