Cyclone Jude has resulted in 14 deaths and 60 injuries in Mozambique, with extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and educational facilities. Recovery efforts are ongoing, necessitating significant funds for repair, while displaced individuals are accommodated in local centers. The cyclone has shifted course to Madagascar, reducing immediate threats to Mozambique.
The death toll from Cyclone Jude, which struck northern and central Mozambique earlier this week, has reached 14, as reported by the Minister of State Administration, Inocencio Impissa. In addition to the fatalities, there are 60 reported injuries. The primary causes of death include house collapses, lightning strikes, and drowning, and authorities anticipate the toll may increase as more information is gathered from remote regions affected by washed-out roads and bridges.
The cyclone has severely impacted infrastructure, destroying 7,041 houses and damaging an additional 13,139. Moreover, the cyclone affected 30 health units and 182 classrooms, disrupting education for 17,401 students and 264 educators. While major access roads into Nampula province suffered damage, light vehicle traffic resumed by Friday afternoon between Nampula city and other northern areas.
Significant damage was reported on the north-south highway (EN1), where a 20-meter gap was created at the Anchilo administrative post, approximately 15 kilometers from Nampula city. In response, contractors from the National Roads Administration (ANE) have constructed a bypass for light vehicles, although heavy trucks remain restricted.
Minister of Transport and Logistics, Joao Matlombe, noted that an estimated 800 million meticais (around 12.5 million dollars) is required for repairing six critical road segments identified by the ANE. He indicated that a comprehensive survey might reveal a need for more complex repairs, particularly for damaged bridges. The priority is to establish alternative transit routes while utilizing boats to assist households in need during the ongoing recovery efforts.
Cyclone Jude also caused extensive damage to the energy infrastructure, downing 19 electricity pylons and flooding 1,262 hectares of farmland. Assessment teams continue to evaluate the cyclone’s impact across affected districts. In Nampula, nine accommodation centers were established to shelter those displaced, accommodating approximately 1,985 individuals as of Saturday.
Initially, the cyclone was predicted to head towards Malawi, but it shifted course, moving through Zambezia province before re-entering the Mozambique Channel. As of Saturday morning, Cyclone Jude made landfall in southern Madagascar and is projected to proceed into the Indian Ocean, posing no further threat to Mozambique.
Cyclone Jude’s devastation in Mozambique has led to 14 confirmed fatalities and significant infrastructural damage, with thousands of homes destroyed and educational facilities affected. Recovery efforts are underway, with the government working to repair roads and restore essential services. The cyclone’s unpredictable path, now moving towards Madagascar, indicates a cautious but optimistic outlook for Mozambique as assessments and recovery operations continue.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
