MAPUTO, The tropical depression which struck the northern Mozambican province of Nampula this week has destroyed 4,110 houses and disrupted power supply to three districtss, according to the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC).
The storm also destroyed 45 classrooms and 32 fishing boats, and knocked down 42 electricity pylons, depriving much of coastal Nampula of power. The INGC estimates that more than 20,000 people have been affected in the districts of Mozambique Island, Monapo, Mossuril and Meconta.
The INGC is providing more than 120 large tents for the families who have lost their homes. It is also providing food aid, consisting of 11.5 tonnes or rice and 12.7 tonnes of beans, to those affected.
INGC Spokesperson Paulo Tomas told a media briefing here Wednesday that t the INGC’s swift response and its new institutional approach were key factors in avoiding any loss of life during the Nampula storms.
The tropical depression resulted from a system of low pressure which formed in the Mozambique Channel over the weekend. The storm system hit the Nampula coast on Monday, causing rainfall of more than 200 millimetres in 24 hours, and strong winds with gusts of up to 85 kilometres per hour.
The forecast is for stormy weather to continue throughout much of northern and central Mozambique for the rest of this week and Tomas warned that thunderstorms were likely in Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces, and perhaps also further west, in Tete province.
The INGC is positioning more tents and food aid to cope with the likely impact of the storms on these provinces.
The storms which battered the coast of Nampula from Monday left the districts of Mozambique Island, Nacaroa and Mossuril without electricity, according to State-owned electricity compan, EDM, after knocking down 42 pylons. The power cuts are affecting about 22,000 households.
Despite difficulties in reaching some of the fallen pylons, EDM spokesperson Luis Amado was confident that power could be restored by Thursday, although further heavy rains could disrupt this timetable.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK