Mozambique begins three days of mourning after Cyclone Idai

Mozambique, on Wednesday, started three days of national mourning, still reeling after Cyclone Idai brought catastrophic winds and flooding to the region, causing possibly 1,000 fatalities in the southern African nation.

President Filipe Nyusi, however, declared a state of emergency, while flags were flying at half-mast across the poverty-stricken country.

“Over 200 bodies had been recovered and an estimated 350,000 people had been affected by the storm,’’ Mr Nyusi said.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Idai, a Category IV storm, could be one of the biggest cyclone disasters south of the equator.

The cyclone made landfall in Mozambique March 14 after brewing in the Indian Ocean, bringing winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour before weakening slightly and heading toward Zimbabwe.

“The cyclone created a storm tide of 3.5 to 4 metres that swept Mozambique’s coastal city of Beira,’’ WMO spokeswoman Clare Naden said in Geneva.

According to the UN, in Malawi, over 900,000 people were affected, with 56 deaths and 577 injuries recorded, while almost 83,000 people are estimated to be displaced.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, the storm caused strong winds and heavy rains, causing flash flooding, which killed about 100 people and destroyed countless properties.

Many areas remained without power and water.

The European Union has pledged almost four million dollars in emergency relief to the countries affected, while the UN Emergency Fund allocated 20 million dollars.

(dpa/NAN)