This handout photograph taken and distributed by UNICEF on March 12, 2023 shows people walking along a street damaged by the impact of Cyclone Freddy in the city of Quelimane. - Tropical cyclone Freddy, which made landfall in Mozambique overnight from March 11, 2023 to March 12, 2023 for the second time in two weeks, killed at least one person on its return and displaced dozens, according to an initial report from local authorities on March 12, 2023. Freddy had already killed 10 people in the southern African country during his first visit at the end of February and 17 in total in Madagascar where he also struck twice, describing a looping trajectory rarely known to meteorologists. (Photo by Alfredo ZUNIGA / UNICEF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /UNICEF/Alfredo Zuniga " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Nampula (Mozambique), 10 Mar (AIM) – Tropical cyclone Jude made landfall on the northern Mozambican coast on Sunday night, near the port city of Nacala.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), by mid-morning on Monday, the cyclone was about 100 kilometres inland, with windspeeds of 65 knots (120 kilometres an hour). The storm system is heading almost due west, and is likely to enter Malawi on Tuesday afternoon, by which time its speed will have dropped to below 35 knots.
Torrential rain is forecast for the Nampula coastal districts of Nacala, Mossuril, Memba, Mozambique Island and Monapo, with rainfall of between 100 and 200 millimetres falling in 24 hours. Rain has already been falling across Nampula province since Saturday night.
The Mozambican relief body, the National Disaster Management Institute (INGD), estimates that over 341,000 people in the province are at high risk from the cyclone.
The provincial directorate of education has ordered the closure of all schools in the province throughout Monday.
The cyclone has brought down elecricity pylons and, as of Monday morning, about 40,000 clients of the public electricity company, EDM, were without power.
Mozambique Airlines (LAM) cancelled all its domestic flights to the north of the country. This affects flights to the cities of Nampula, Nacala and Pemba.
LAM assured the passengers affected by these cancellations that they will be transported as soon as the weather improves and flights become possible again.
(AIM)
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