Six people have died, and more than 900 homes destroyed by Cyclone Jude in northern Mozambique, authorities said Wednesday.
A non- Government organization, IOM Mozambique, said over 740,000 people are at high risk, with damaged homes, roads, and essential infrastructure.
Guy Taylor, UNICEF’s Chief of Advocacy, Communications, and Partnerships in Mozambique, said inclement weather poses serious risks to children in densely populated areas. In addition, they face a heightened threat of waterborne diseases.
A preliminary report from Nsanje District Council, indicates that three people are still missing, when a canoe they were sailing fell into a nearby area in Mozambique to Nsanje.
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in the Office of the President and Cabinet, said in total, the cyclone has affected over 3,600 people in eight councils, namely; Mulanje, Chikwawa, Thyolo, Zomba City, Phalombe, Neno, Mwanza and Mangochi.
Although cyclone Jude is in Mozambique, a satellite image released by Meteorologists on Wednesday morning, around 8am, show severe thunderstorms off the northern coast of KZN.
In fact, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned against disruptive rain at level 6.
The rain was forecast over the eastern parts of kwaZulu-Natal.
Another warning was against severe thunderstorms and strong damaging winds, over most parts of KwaZulu-Natal, except in the south-east and extreme north-east.
Similar weather but with relatively lesser amounts is expected over the northern Cape, southern parts of Free State as well as along Lesotho borders, eastern parts of the North West, Gauteng, southern Limpopo and most partsof Mpumalanga, except in the Lowveld.
Picture: Juliana, Akila Entertainment.