Death toll from cyclone Gombe rises to 53 in Mozambique

Maputo, March 18, (dpa/GNA) – At least 53 people have died in Mozambique since tropical cyclone Gombe struck the country a week ago, an official said.

The regional politician responsible for the badly hit Nampula province, Mety Gondola, gave the death toll on Thursday evening but warned the actual number of victims could be much higher.

Thousands of houses were partly or completely destroyed in the northern coastal province. Many areas have been completely cut off from the outside world by flooding and road damage, making relief efforts nearly impossible.

The cyclone’s wind speeds reached around 200 kilometres per hour as it battered the south-eastern African country last week.

Southern Africa is currently in the summer cyclone season, which brings heavy storms and rainfall until March or April

GNA