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Cyclone Idai: Mozambique president says 1,000 may have died | Cyclone Idai: Mozambique president says 1,000 may have died |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The death toll in Mozambique from Cyclone Idai could reach 1,000, President Filipe Nyusi has said. | The death toll in Mozambique from Cyclone Idai could reach 1,000, President Filipe Nyusi has said. |
It made landfall close to the port city of Beira on Thursday with winds of up to 177 km/h (106 mph), but aid teams only reached the city on Sunday. | It made landfall close to the port city of Beira on Thursday with winds of up to 177 km/h (106 mph), but aid teams only reached the city on Sunday. |
The official death toll stands at 84 following flooding and high winds, which have destroyed homes and ripped roofs from concrete buildings. | The official death toll stands at 84 following flooding and high winds, which have destroyed homes and ripped roofs from concrete buildings. |
The cyclone has killed at least 180 people across southern Africa. | |
On a visit to Beira, President Nyusi said that its impact had been devastating, adding that he had seen bodies floating in the floodwater. | On a visit to Beira, President Nyusi said that its impact had been devastating, adding that he had seen bodies floating in the floodwater. |
Earlier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) described it as "massive and horrifying". | Earlier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) described it as "massive and horrifying". |
People have had to be rescued from trees, head of the IFRC assessment team, Jamie LeSeur, told the BBC. | People have had to be rescued from trees, head of the IFRC assessment team, Jamie LeSeur, told the BBC. |
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, 98 people have died and 217 people are missing in the east and south, the government says. | |
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 84 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. | At least 84 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. | 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. | "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. |
'Never seen anything like this' | 'Never seen anything like this' |
Shingai Nyoka, BBC Africa, eastern Zimbabwe | Shingai Nyoka, BBC Africa, eastern Zimbabwe |
My journey to Chimanimani ended abruptly when we came across a huge crater in the road. | My journey to Chimanimani ended abruptly when we came across a huge crater in the road. |
The river was raging below and scores of people were standing on either side. | The river was raging below and scores of people were standing on either side. |
This was the main road linking the city of Mutare to the villages of Chimanimani, which have been cut off. Aid teams have been unable to get through. | This was the main road linking the city of Mutare to the villages of Chimanimani, which have been cut off. Aid teams have been unable to get through. |
People who live in this area say they have never seen anything like this. | People who live in this area say they have never seen anything like this. |
An elderly couple, Edson and Miriam Sunguro, told me that they have been trying to contact relatives in Chimanimani without success. | An elderly couple, Edson and Miriam Sunguro, told me that they have been trying to contact relatives in Chimanimani without success. |
What will the weather do next? | What will the weather do next? |
"There is a risk of more rain over the next few days for the northern half of Mozambique and southern Malawi," BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes says. | "There is a risk of more rain over the next few days for the northern half of Mozambique and southern Malawi," BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes says. |
There could be thunderstorms, he adds, but "the picture is complicated by thick layers of cloud left over from Idai that could prevent some thunderstorms from starting". | There could be thunderstorms, he adds, but "the picture is complicated by thick layers of cloud left over from Idai that could prevent some thunderstorms from starting". |
Are you in the area? Tell us about your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the area? Tell us about your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |