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Cyclone Idai: Devastation in Mozambique and Zimbabwe | Cyclone Idai: Devastation in Mozambique and Zimbabwe |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Cyclone Idai has had a "massive and horrifying" impact on Mozambique's port city of Beira, the Red Cross says. | Cyclone Idai has had a "massive and horrifying" impact on Mozambique's port city of Beira, the Red Cross says. |
Dozens of people have died as a result of the flooding and high winds, which have destroyed homes and ripped roofs from concrete buildings. | |
Cyclone Idai made landfall on Thursday with winds of up to 177 km/h (106 mph), but aid teams only reached Beira on Sunday. | |
It has killed at least 150 people across southern Africa. | |
In Mozambique, people have had to be rescued from trees, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) assessment team, Jamie LeSeur, told the BBC. | |
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, more than 80 people have died in the east and south, information ministry head Nick Mangwana told Reuters news agency. | |
This includes two pupils from the St Charles Lwanga boarding school in the district of Chimanimani, who died after their dormitory was hit when rocks swept down a mountain. | This includes two pupils from the St Charles Lwanga boarding school in the district of Chimanimani, who died after their dormitory was hit when rocks swept down a mountain. |
Malawi has also been badly hit. The flooding there, caused by the rains before the cyclone made landfall, led to at least 122 deaths, Reliefweb reports. | Malawi has also been badly hit. The flooding there, caused by the rains before the cyclone made landfall, led to at least 122 deaths, Reliefweb reports. |
How bad is the damage in Beira? | How bad is the damage in Beira? |
At least 68 people have died in Mozambique, mostly around Beira, the country's fourth largest city with a population of about 500,000, the authorities there say. | |
More than 1,500 people have been injured by falling trees and debris from buildings including zinc roofing, the BBC's Jose Tembe in the capital, Maputo, quotes officials as saying. | More than 1,500 people have been injured by falling trees and debris from buildings including zinc roofing, the BBC's Jose Tembe in the capital, Maputo, quotes officials as saying. |
"Almost everything has been affected by the calamity," Alberto Mondlane, the governor of Sofala province, which includes Beira, said on Sunday. | "Almost everything has been affected by the calamity," Alberto Mondlane, the governor of Sofala province, which includes Beira, said on Sunday. |
"We have people currently suffering, some on top of trees and are badly in need of help." | "We have people currently suffering, some on top of trees and are badly in need of help." |
Local people in Beira have put in an "incredible effort" to reopen roads in the city, Mr LeSeur told the BBC's Newsday programme. | |
"Beira has been severely battered. But we are hearing that the situation outside the city could be even worse," a statement from the IFRC quotes him as saying. | |
The road linking Beira to the rest of the country has been damaged, but air links have now resumed. | The road linking Beira to the rest of the country has been damaged, but air links have now resumed. |
President Filipe Nyusi cut short a trip to eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, to visit the affected areas. | President Filipe Nyusi cut short a trip to eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, to visit the affected areas. |
What's the situation in Zimbabwe? | What's the situation in Zimbabwe? |
A state of disaster has been declared in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home early from a trip to the United Arab Emirates to "make sure he is involved directly with the national response", the authorities say. | A state of disaster has been declared in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home early from a trip to the United Arab Emirates to "make sure he is involved directly with the national response", the authorities say. |
The ministry of information has shared pictures of pupils from St Charles Lwanga School, who have now been rescued. | The ministry of information has shared pictures of pupils from St Charles Lwanga School, who have now been rescued. |
'Frustration is growing' | 'Frustration is growing' |
Shingai Nyoka, BBC Africa, Mutare, eastern Zimbabwe | Shingai Nyoka, BBC Africa, Mutare, eastern Zimbabwe |
It's been days since the first rains fell but the skies here show no signs of clearing. | It's been days since the first rains fell but the skies here show no signs of clearing. |
Roads and bridges have been washed away and air rescue is the only hope for the hundreds who remain stuck. | Roads and bridges have been washed away and air rescue is the only hope for the hundreds who remain stuck. |
The low-hanging clouds and mist are stopping rescue efforts and frustration is growing at the command centre here in Mutare. | The low-hanging clouds and mist are stopping rescue efforts and frustration is growing at the command centre here in Mutare. |
Social Welfare Minister Sekesai Nzenza told me that helicopters have waited for days to airlift the injured and deliver food and blankets to those affected by the flooding. | Social Welfare Minister Sekesai Nzenza told me that helicopters have waited for days to airlift the injured and deliver food and blankets to those affected by the flooding. |