Africa: cities devastated by cyclone Idai | Chronic

Every day, the official death toll increases. The pbadage of Hurricane Idai through southeastern Africa (Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi) devastated entire territories of these three countries. <a href = "https://www.cronica.com.ar/mundo/Ciclon-mato-a-mas-de-mil-personas-en- mozambique-20190318-0050.html "target =" _ blank ">The most affected region is the coast and central Mozambique.. The official death toll has already risen to more than 200, but on Monday, the country's president, Filipe Nyusi, said that number could exceed 1,000. International humanitarian agencies consider the consequences of this storm as the worst disaster occurred in South-East Africa in two decades.

The cyclone Idai reached maximum winds of 177 km / h and reached the Mozambique coast last Thursday night. The big storm then moved to two neighboring countries: Zimbabwe, where strong winds and torrential rains left 98 dead (officially), and Malawi (with at least 150 dead). It is estimated that at least 1.7 million people were directly affected by the cyclone, according to the UN World Food Program.

The most affected city was Beira, a port city of Mozambique. 90% of this city, with 500,000 inhabitants, was completely devastated, according to the Red Cross. The city has become almost a ghost, many houses have been totally destroyed, there is no drinking water or electricity and commercial establishments and public institutions have had to close because of the cyclone, according to the website. The country.

Meanwhile, rescuers continue to work against the clock to help survivors, refugees on the roofs of houses or at the treetops. In Zimbabwe, although the official record is 98 people, this balance could increase in the coming hours with dozens of missing persons. "There are floating bodies, some [llegando] Zimbabwe's minister, July Moyo, has left 56 dead, nearly one million people affected and more than 80,000 forced to leave their homes.

The situation is worse in Mozambique

In the neighboring districts of Beira de Búzi, Chibabava, Muanza, Mossurize and Sussundenga, thousands of citizens remain on the roofs of the few remaining homes and in the treetops that have withstood the strength of the rivers Búzi and Pungué. since Saturday, they overflow and caused floods in the region. Rescue teams use boats and helicopters to try to reach the survivors of this tragedy, with many bridges and roads being washed away.

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An area 100 km long is totally flooded, according to the Minister of the Environment, Celson Correia. There is also a "ocean" in the country that completely isolates many peoples, he told the agency France Press a cooperator who has chosen not to identify.

"In the trees, people have to fight with snakes, insects, animals"said Ian Scher, president of the South African Rescue organization, which is involved in relief operations in Mozambique. "We have to make difficult decisions, sometimes we can save only two out of five people, sometimes we leave them food and we will help others who are more at risk"Scher explained.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the next 72 hours would be "Critical" for Mozambique: The effects of the cyclone and floods can be aggravated as rain continues to rain heavily in areas worst hit by the weather. In addition, the capacity of some dams in the region is approaching its maximum level. The president of this country asked citizens living near rivers that "Leave the area to save your life" because the authorities will have no choice but to open the floodgates, even if the land is already completely flooded.

"Save the Children" said Tuesday that he feared for the lives of more than 100,000 people. According to this British NGO, the effects of the floods that Mozambique has experienced since the beginning of this month have been amplified by the cyclone. "leaving behind destroyed homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure." "The magnitude of this disaster is increasing every minute and we are very concerned about children and families who are still in danger", alerted the coordinator of Save the Children in the African nation, Michael Pouw.

The Mozambican government estimates that about 600,000 people have been affected by the disaster. The executive said three days of official mourning in the country began Tuesday night. The magnitude of the hurricane has reached far more northern countries, such as Kenya.