Cyclone Dikeledi devastates Mozambique: 11 dead, homes razed
Cyclone Dikeledi has led to the deaths of at least 11 people in the province of Nampula in northern Mozambique. Torrential rains and winds reaching up to 121 miles per hour have destroyed thousands of homes and critical infrastructure.
Cyclone Dikeledi, which impacted the northern part of Mozambique, has had tragic consequences. In the province of Nampula, at least 11 individuals have died, and 34 have been injured. Strong winds and heavy downpours wreaked havoc, leaving nearly 250,000 residents without shelter.
According to information from the National Disaster Management Agency (INGD), the cyclone entirely destroyed over 19,700 residential buildings and partially damaged another 27,500 homes. The winds tore off roofs and toppled high-voltage poles, damaging over 2,200 power poles.
Cyclone Dikeledi hits Mozambique
The situation in Mozambique remains challenging, and residents urgently need assistance. Due to fallen trees and standing water, numerous roads in the province of Nampula have become impassable. Civil defence services are working diligently to restore normalcy in the region.
A few days ago, the Mozambique News Agency reported that the cyclone, which moved through Mozambique in the middle of the week, destroyed 35 schools and nearly three thousand homes. At that time, it was stated that at least five individuals had died. Regrettably, the death toll continues to rise.
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Earlier, the cyclone passed through other regions, including Mayotte (a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean) and Madagascar, where three people died, and over five thousand residents were forced to evacuate their homes.
Cyclone Dikeledi is another reminder of the destructive power of nature. Only a month prior, Cyclone Chido struck the eastern Africa region, with the prefect of Mayotte reporting that the death toll from the cyclone could be several hundred or even a few thousand.