Zimbabwe: Cyclone Idai death toll rises to 299

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - The death toll form Cyclone Idai has risen sharply to 299, a government official told Anadolu Agency on Monday.

“The death toll keeps going up especially after the arrival of the sniffer dogs that have so far pointed to 28 bodies. If we then add last week’s total of 189 to the 82 bodies confirmed to have been buried in Mozambique then we come up with 299,” said Minister of Local Government July Moyo.

United Nations agencies have said 259 people died and 329 are still missing in Zimbabwe from the storm.

Moyo explained the difference saying the UN agencies have their own way of adding figures and government was doing a body count.

“The numbers are confusing us as well, we have mentioned a number of figures previously so all you need to do is add up all the figures we have made so far,” he added.