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Cyclone Favio strikes Mozambique Cyclone Favio strikes Mozambique
(about 4 hours later)
A tropical cyclone has struck central Mozambique with strong winds destroying houses and uprooting trees and pylons. A tropical cyclone has struck central Mozambique with strong winds destroying homes, causing blackouts and injuring at least 20 people, officials said.
Cyclone Favio made landfall in the central province of Inhambane near the town of Vilanculos and is heading inland towards the city of Beira. Cyclone Favio made landfall in the central province of Inhambane, near the town of Vilanculos, and is heading inland towards the city of Beira.
Winds are reported to be in the range of 100mph-130mph (160km/h-200km/h). Winds reportedly hit 170mph (270km/h) and there are fears of flooding.
The country is still struggling to cope with the effects of recent floods. An estimated 120,000 Mozambicans have already been driven from their homes. Mozambique is still struggling after floods left an estimated 120,000 people homeless earlier this month.
The category-four storm tore through the tourist town of Vilanculos, damaging homes, the town court and prison and uprooting trees.
Roads were also blocked by heavy rainfall.
"I can't do anything because all the roads have been blocked by falling trees and it's even impossible to try and rescue the people whose homes have been hit because there is no access," Sulemane Amugy, the town's mayor, told Reuters.
Travel warningTravel warning
"It's dangerous for people. They have to close their windows, doors and they have to look for safer places and avoid being under trees," said Helder Sueia from the meteorological office."It's dangerous for people. They have to close their windows, doors and they have to look for safer places and avoid being under trees," said Helder Sueia from the meteorological office.
"[Favio] is a category four cyclone... It's a very strong cyclone.""[Favio] is a category four cyclone... It's a very strong cyclone."
The cyclone is expected to lose much of its power over land, but the fear is that heavy rainfall may add to severe flooding in Mozambique, says the BBC's Adam Mynott.The cyclone is expected to lose much of its power over land, but the fear is that heavy rainfall may add to severe flooding in Mozambique, says the BBC's Adam Mynott.
There are fears Favio's heavy rainfall may add to severe floodsThere are fears Favio's heavy rainfall may add to severe floods
The Mozambican authorities are on high alert, and thousands of volunteers are on stand-by to help move people to the relative safety of communal buildings, such as schools and churches.The Mozambican authorities are on high alert, and thousands of volunteers are on stand-by to help move people to the relative safety of communal buildings, such as schools and churches.
The UK's Foreign Office has advised against all travel to the tourist islands around Bazaruto, as well as low-lying coastal areas.The UK's Foreign Office has advised against all travel to the tourist islands around Bazaruto, as well as low-lying coastal areas.
The cyclone passed through Bazaruto but there is no word yet of its effect there. There have also been storms as far south as Xai Xai.The cyclone passed through Bazaruto but there is no word yet of its effect there. There have also been storms as far south as Xai Xai.
HAVE YOUR SAY Of course people should live by rivers. It's where the fertile soil is Mark, New York Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Of course people should live by rivers. It's where the fertile soil is Mark, New York Send us your comments
The government in Mozambique has been praised for its response to the recent crisis, says the BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles.The government in Mozambique has been praised for its response to the recent crisis, says the BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles.
It has been far better prepared than it was seven years ago when hundreds of people lost their lives during the worst floods in the country's history.It has been far better prepared than it was seven years ago when hundreds of people lost their lives during the worst floods in the country's history.
Experts tracking the expected path of Cyclone Favio over the past week think it is unlikely to badly affect the flooded areas around the Zambezi river, but they emphasise that cyclones are highly unpredictable.Experts tracking the expected path of Cyclone Favio over the past week think it is unlikely to badly affect the flooded areas around the Zambezi river, but they emphasise that cyclones are highly unpredictable.