Storm GEZANI may affect over one million people

Maputo, 10 Feb (AIM) – The Mozambican government has announced that the passage of the moderate tropical storm Gezani, which is expected to hit the southern province of Gaza and Inhambane, and the central province of Sofala this week, may affect over one million people.

According to Public Works Minister Fernando Rafael, who was speaking to reporters on Monday, during a working visit to the Hydrological Forecasting and Monitoring Room, located at the National Emergency Operations Center, at Mavalane Air Base, in Maputo, – the country still has some river basins on alert, making it urgent that the populations are properly informed about the potential risk associated with the impending storm, which could hit the Mozambican coast on Thursday.

“An impact is also expected on people living in this coastal area. It will further impact our infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals. With the forecasting and monotoring room, whose equipment has already reached 90 percent completion, weather forecasts can become increasingly efficient and effective”, he said.

According to the minister, February corresponds to the peak of the rainy season, which began in October 2025 and is expected to last until April, which means that “we must keep the alert regime throughout the country.”

According to a statement released by the National Director of Water Resources Management, Gezani could affect approximately 13,000 schools, 1,800 health facilities and about 800 kilometers of the electricity grid.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorology Institute (INAM) has warned that Gezani, which formed in the southwestern basin of the Indian Ocean, could evolve into a cyclone in the coming hours.

“Last Monday, the system had average winds of 75 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 100 kilometers per hour, moving southwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. The storm could reach the Mozambique Channel within the next 72 hours. The storm could bring winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, with gusts that could reach 140 kilometers per hour, accompanied by heavy rain”, reads the document.

In fact, according to the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning System, Gezani has already become a cyclone. It will cross Madagascar before hitting the Mozambique Channel, which could slow it down considerably.
(AIM)
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