Tropical Cyclone Jude has claimed nine lives in Mozambique and Malawi, displacing thousands and causing significant flooding. In Mozambique, six fatalities were reported alongside thousands displaced, while Malawi recorded three deaths and around 20,000 homeless. Relief operations are hampered by access issues as a result of washed-out infrastructure.
Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in the tragic loss of at least nine lives across Mozambique and Malawi, confirming officials on Thursday. In Mozambique, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) reported that the cyclone has claimed six lives, left 20 individuals injured, and displaced 9,525 people in the affected provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia.
In Malawi, three fatalities have been reported along with significant displacement, where approximately 20,000 individuals have lost their homes due to flooding in the southern region. Chiphiliro Khamula, a spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in Malawi, informed Anadolu that affected individuals are being accommodated in evacuation centers.
The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday and subsequently advanced into southern Malawi, inducing heavy flooding from Monday to Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has indicated that relief efforts are facing obstacles due to washed-out roads and bridges, making access to affected areas challenging.
This year’s cyclone is reminiscent of Tropical Cyclone Chido, which struck last December, resulting in the deaths of 73 individuals in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi. The destruction caused by both cyclones highlights the persistent vulnerability of the regions to severe weather events.
In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Jude has led to the loss of nine lives and considerable suffering across Mozambique and Malawi, prompting widespread displacement and obstacles to relief efforts. The ongoing impact of severe weather events emphasizes the critical need for adequate disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience in vulnerable regions.
Original Source: news.az
