Cyclone Jude in Mozambique: Death Toll and Damage Assessment

Cyclone Jude has claimed 14 lives in Mozambique, causing substantial damage including 7,041 destroyed homes and compromising health and educational infrastructure. Current assessments indicate ongoing efforts to provide relief and repair critical roads, with a focus on alternative transportation solutions. The cyclone has now moved towards Madagascar and is not expected to threaten Mozambique further.

The official death toll from Cyclone Jude in Mozambique has reached 14, as per Inocencio Impissa, the Minister of State Administration. In a briefing to the press in Maputo, he revealed that another 60 individuals sustained injuries due to the cyclone’s devastation. The fatalities were primarily attributed to house collapses, lightning strikes, and drowning incidents, and the toll may rise as information comes in from remote areas affected by the floods.

The cyclone has led to the destruction of 7,041 homes and damaged an additional 13,139. Essential infrastructure has also suffered, with 30 health facilities and 182 classrooms impacted, affecting over 17,000 students and their teachers. While access roads to Nampula province were heavily damaged, light vehicle traffic resumed by Friday afternoon, although the main north-south highway (EN1) has been severely disrupted.

Transport and Logistics Minister Joao Matlombe personally assessed the damage in Nampula and indicated that repairs for the six critical roadway sections would require an estimated 800 million meticais (approximately 12.5 million dollars). He expressed concerns that extensive evaluations might reveal the necessity for more extensive and costly repairs, particularly on bridge structures.

The priority for officials is to establish alternative routes for traffic flow in regions where bridges have collapsed. In the interim, boats are being utilized to provide essential supplies to households in need until repairs can be conducted. Furthermore, Cyclone Jude has toppled 19 electricity pylons and inundated 1,262 hectares of farmland.

Efforts to assess the cyclone’s damage are ongoing, with multi-sectoral teams deployed to the affected districts. In Nampula, authorities have established nine temporary accommodation centers for those displaced, with nearly 2,000 individuals currently receiving shelter. Interestingly, contrary to earlier predictions, the cyclone did not veer west toward Malawi but instead made a path through Zambezia province before heading south to Madagascar, where it is anticipated to dissipate in the Indian Ocean, posing no further threat to Mozambique.

In summary, Cyclone Jude has resulted in 14 confirmed deaths and widespread destruction across Mozambique, particularly in Nampula province. The damage includes thousands of destroyed homes, infrastructure impacts, and significant disruptions to education and health services. Recovery efforts are underway, with the government prioritizing immediate aid and infrastructure repairs, while also preparing for the possibility of ongoing assessments revealing additional needs.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com