Mozambique: Tropical storm leaves fatalities and trail of destruction in Nampula

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Mozambique: Tropical storm leaves fatalities and trail of destruction in Nampula

11:31 CAT | 11 Mar 2025

File photo: Noticias

At least six people have died and others have been injured by the passage of Severe Tropical Storm Jude through the municipality of Nacala-Porto and the districts of Meconta and Moma in Nampula.

The weather system flattened schools, health centres, electricity transmission poles and houses in almost all districts of the province, leaving thousands of families vulnerable.The storm crossed into mainland Mozambique early yesterday through the district of Mossuril, bringing winds of 140 kilometres per hour, gusting to 195 km/h. In Nacala, Mayor Faruk Nuro said that interventions would begin in critical areas and support will be channelled to those affected as soon as the rain and strong winds abated.

The affected families had in the meantime ben offered shelter in one of the city’s schools. Of the deaths, four occurred in Nacala-Porto, one in Meconta and another in Moma. The director of Planning and Infrastructure for the Nacala-Porto district, Malide Abudo, said the rain had precipitated landslides, destroyed houses and cut roads, especially in the city’s downtown area.

Abudo stressed that all data was so far preliminary, and authorities were currently still assessing the damage.

It is estimated that around 342,000 people across the province will be affected by the storm, with the system still bringing heavy rains and strong winds accompanied by thunderstorms.

The Technical Council for Disaster Management (CTGD) activated the advance actions for cyclones contained in the 2024-2025 Contingency Plan, but meteorologist Manuel Francisco from the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) noted that the cyclone weakened to a severe tropical storm after landfall.

The storm however continues to cause winds of up to 120 km/h and rain of over 200 millimetres in 24 hours, and is heading towards Niassa, where it will make a turning curve towards Zambézia before returning to the sea tomorrow.

Gilé administrator Mariano Maquinze has advised that heavy rains and winds have already
completely or partially destroyed homes in northern Zambézia.

Source: Noticias