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Floods destroy homes, trap families in cyclone-hit Mozambique

28 April 2019 23:03 (UTC +04:00)

Rescuers raced to help people caught in rising floodwaters in cyclone-hit northern Mozambique on Sunday as houses collapsed and heavy rains raised fears of worse to come, ONA reports quoting Reuters.

Cyclone Kenneth first slammed into the province of Cabo Delgado late on Thursday, flattening entire villages with winds of up to 280 kph (174 mph) and storm surges - the second cyclone to hit the country in six weeks.

Floods and rains that followed sent brown water coursing through the streets of the province’s main city Pemba on Sunday and submerged roads leading to remote areas to the north and south.

The Mozambican government has put the initial death count at five. But rescuers said there were fears for the safety thousands of families cut off after rivers burst their banks outside the city.

Flights and helicopters were currently grounded, making access “virtually impossible”, said Nicholas Finney from Save the Children.