Cyclone Jude: Mozambique Faces Devastating Impact with 14 Confirmed Deaths

Cyclone Jude has resulted in 14 fatalities and 60 injuries in Mozambique, destroying thousands of homes and public facilities. Repair costs are projected at 800 million meticais, with assessments ongoing. Emergency shelter has been provided for nearly 2,000 individuals. The cyclone has since moved on to Madagascar, posing no further threat to Mozambique.

The reported death toll from Cyclone Jude, which affected many areas in northern and central Mozambique, has reached 14, as stated by Inocencio Impissa, the Minister of State Administration. Following a Council of Ministers meeting in Maputo, he also reported that 60 individuals sustained injuries during the cyclone’s passage across the country. The fatalities occurred primarily due to the collapse of poorly constructed homes, lightning strikes, and drowning incidents. The numbers may rise as more information emerges from remote areas where infrastructure has been severely affected.

The cyclone has resulted in the destruction of 7,041 houses, with an additional 13,139 sustaining damage. Around 30 health facilities and 182 classrooms in 59 schools have been impacted, disrupting the lives of 17,401 students and 264 educators. While main roads to Nampula province suffered significant damage, light vehicle traffic resumed between Nampula city and the northern regions by Friday afternoon.

The primary north-south highway (EN1) was severed near the Anchilo administrative post, creating a 20-meter gap. Contractors from the National Roads Administration established a bypass for light vehicles, though heavy trucks remain unable to traverse this route. Minister of Transport and Logistics, Joao Matlombe, visited Nampula to assess the situation firsthand, revealing that the repairs for six key segments of the road network will require an estimated 800 million meticais (approximately 12.5 million dollars).

Matlombe expressed concern that a thorough evaluation may uncover the need for more extensive repairs, particularly regarding Nampula’s bridges. The government’s immediate priority is to identify alternative routes for traffic while utilizing boats to deliver essential supplies to households awaiting assistance.

The cyclone also resulted in the collapse of 19 electricity pylons and submerged 1,262 hectares of farmland. Impissa confirmed that ongoing assessments are being conducted by multi-sector teams stationed in the worst-hit districts. In response to the disaster, nine accommodation centers were set up in Nampula, currently sheltering 1,985 displaced individuals.

Despite initial forecasts anticipating Jude would travel west toward Malawi, the cyclone veered eastward, moving through Zambezia province before entering the Mozambique Channel. As of Saturday, Jude made landfall in southern Madagascar, and it is expected to traverse the Indian Ocean, diminishing any potential threat to Mozambique.

In summary, Cyclone Jude has tragically claimed 14 lives and injured numerous individuals, with damage to thousands of homes, schools, and health facilities. Infrastructure disruption continues to impede aid delivery, though alternative routes are being established. Assessments of the storm’s impact are ongoing, while efforts to shelter displaced persons are prioritized. Fortunately, the cyclone has shifted direction, likely avoiding further harm to Mozambique.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com