Tropical Cyclone Jude Causes Loss of Life and Displacement in Southern Africa

Tropical Cyclone Jude has resulted in nine deaths across Mozambique and Malawi, causing significant flooding and displacement. In Mozambique, six fatalities were reported alongside injuries and the displacement of over 9,500 people. Malawi reported three deaths and 20,000 people displaced, with relief efforts hampered by infrastructural damage.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals across Mozambique and Malawi, as confirmed by officials on Thursday. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Mozambique reported six fatalities, 20 injuries, and the displacement of 9,525 individuals, primarily in the northern provinces of Nampula and Niasa, as well as in the central province of Zambezia.

In Malawi, the cyclone’s impact has also been severe, claiming three lives and displacing approximately 20,000 residents in the southern region, where significant flooding has occurred. Chiphiliro Khamula, spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in Malawi, stated that those affected are currently being accommodated in evacuation centers.

Cyclone Jude made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday and subsequently moved south into Malawi, leading to heavy flooding from Monday through Wednesday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that relief efforts are being hindered due to the destruction of roads and bridges.

This incident follows Cyclone Chido’s devastation in December last year, which resulted in 73 fatalities in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi, emphasizing the ongoing challenges that both countries face from such natural disasters.

Tropical Cyclone Jude has significantly impacted Mozambique and Malawi, causing substantial loss of life and extensive displacement. With six deaths reported in Mozambique and three in Malawi, thousands are left homeless and emergency relief efforts are being obstructed by infrastructure damage. The situation underscores the vulnerability of these regions to cyclone-related disasters, reflecting on a pattern established by previous cyclones such as Chido.

Original Source: news.az