Tropical cyclone kills at least 24 people in Zimbabwe

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) – A tropical cyclone has left at least 24 people dead, 40 missing and hundreds injured in eastern Zimbabwe bordering Mozambique, authorities said on Saturday.

Cyclone IDAI also caused a trail of destruction to infrastructure, houses, and affected millions of people in the region.

“Currently the number of people confirmed dead is standing at 24, mainly from an area called Chimanimani East bordering with Mozambique. Two of those are students but 40 people are missing.

"Rescue efforts are still ongoing but due to heavy winds and rainfall, it is proving difficult to move with great speed,” said Nick Mangawana, secretary in the Ministry of Information.

“Hundreds of people have had their houses destroyed and marooned on rooftops or in the mountains and the military is working flat out to rescue them,” he said.

Farmers in the entire areas affected by the tropical cyclone have recorded massive losses as most of the crops that had survived the dry spell have been destroyed.

According to a statement issued by the Meteorological Department, at least seven provinces bordering Mozambique were predicted to be affected by the tropical cyclone IDAI which made landfall in Mozambique Thursday evening.