Cyclone Jude’s Impact in Mozambique: Death Toll and Damage Report

Cyclone Jude has led to 14 confirmed deaths in Mozambique, with 60 injuries reported. It caused severe damage, destroying over 7,000 homes and impacting health and education facilities. Access roads have suffered significant damage, prompting immediate repair efforts. The cyclone has now moved toward Madagascar, reducing the threat to Mozambique.

The confirmed death toll from Cyclone Jude in Mozambique has reached 14, as reported by Inocencio Impissa, the Minister of State Administration. In addition, around 60 people have been injured due to the cyclone’s effects, which included house collapses, lightning strikes, and drowning incidents. Authorities anticipate the death toll may increase as they receive further information from remote areas.

Cyclone Jude has caused significant structural damage, destroying 7,041 homes and damaging an additional 13,139. The cyclone also affected 30 healthcare facilities and 182 classrooms across 59 schools, impacting 17,401 students and 264 teachers. Access roads into Nampula have been severely compromised, though light traffic resumed between Nampula city and the northern region by Friday.

Key infrastructure, including the EN1 highway, has been disrupted, particularly at the Anchilo administrative post where a 20-meter gap has formed. The National Roads Administration (ANE) has constructed a bypass for light vehicles, but heavier trucks remain unable to use it. Minister Joao Matlombe indicated that 800 million meticais (around 12.5 million USD) would be required for repairs on critical routes, with the potential for higher costs as further assessments are conducted.

Efforts to ensure the transport of essential supplies are ongoing, with alternative routes and boats being utilized to reach households needing assistance in areas where bridge repairs are pending. Cyclone Jude has also downed 19 electricity pylons and flooded 1,262 hectares of farmland, prompting continuous assessments by multi-sector teams.

In Nampula, nine accommodation centers have been established for those displaced by the cyclone, housing nearly 1,985 individuals as of Saturday. Although Cyclone Jude initially seemed headed toward Malawi, it changed direction and crossed Zambezia province before moving back into the Mozambique Channel. It later made landfall in southern Madagascar but is expected to move into the Indian Ocean without posing additional threats to Mozambique.

Cyclone Jude has caused significant loss of life, extensive property damage, and infrastructure disruption in Mozambique. Continuous assessments and emergency responses are occurring, with a focus on restoring accessibility and providing support to affected households. The cyclone’s path has shifted, mitigating further threats to Mozambique as it moves toward Madagascar and the Indian Ocean.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com