Maputo, 12 Mar (AIM) – Tropical cyclone Freddy has cut off all communications between Quelimane, capital of the central province of Zambezia, and the rest of the province.
By Sunday afternoon there was no telephone communication of any sort with Quelimane. There were severe problems with the city’s electricity supply, such that it was impossible to withdraw money from banks through ATMs.
“It’s very difficult to calculate the losses caused by the cyclone”, commented one Radio Mozambique reporter. “In Quelimane, there is no communication. Right now, we’re in Nicoadala district, but along the Quelimane-Nicoadala road there’s a lot of destruction, houses blown down, electricity pylons knocked over, social facilities such as schools facing serious problems”.
So far, just one death attributed to the cyclone has been reported. This was a man who died on Saturday in the locality of Zalala when his house collapsed on top of him.
Although Freddy is now forecast to weaken, the National Meteorological Institute (INAM) warns that heavy rains will continue to fall across Zambezia for the next three days, with rainfall of over 200 millimetres in 24 hours. There will also be heavy rains in Manica and Sofala, in the southern part of Nampula, and in Niassa province.
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