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Rescuers ran to help people affected by the floods in Pemba, a cyclone hit city of Mozambique on Sunday, as houses collapsed in a neighborhood and heavy rains were feared to be worse.
More than 160,000 people have been affected in this predominantly rural region, many of whom are already exposed and hungry.
"Help us, we lose everything!" Northerners shouted cars as tumultuous waters flooded their homes. Women and girls with buckets and pots tried to dig the torrent. But to no avail – the water was flowing through the doors.
In the most affected area of Natite, homes have begun to collapse, the UN Humanitarian Agency (OCHA) said in a tweet.
"We are unfortunately expecting devastating floods," he said.
Hurricane Kenneth arrived just six weeks after the cyclone Idai in central Mozambique and the deaths of more than 600 people during floods. The remains of the new storm could shed twice as much rain as Idai, the UN said.
Up to 250 mm, about one quarter of the average annual rainfall in the region, have been forecast over the next few days.
"I've never seen such rains in my life," said Michael Fernando, a 35-year-old Pemba resident.
This is the first time in the history of history that the country of southern Africa is hit by two cyclones in one season, which again raises concerns about climate change.
Rescuers evacuated at least 130 people to centers elsewhere in the city on Sunday, mainly by boat, said Salviano Abreu, OCHA spokesman.
"No more houses are standing"
According to Unicef, an additional 368,000 children in Mozambique are now at risk and potentially require vital humanitarian support.
"Cabo Delgado has no history of hurricanes and we are deeply concerned that communities in the region would not have been prepared for the magnitude of the storm, thus putting children and families in a very precarious situation, "said Michel Le Pechoux, deputy representative of UNICEF Mozambique.
Some residents of Pemba have been trying to stack tires and sand-filled bags outside their homes to prevent rising water, while small, fast-flowing rivers have formed. digging trenches in the streets.
The children took refuge in a bus that seemed blocked as vehicles struggled in the streets. A woman was apparently stunned by the falling rain.
"We will continue to move until we are somewhere safe," said a man, while people fled with cases in plastic bags.
In Mahate district, in the city, a large crack formed in the ground, which prompted OCHA to prevent landslides.
There was no immediate word on the extent of floods outside Pemba.
According to the authorities, at least five people died after Kenneth roared Thursday night with the force of a Category 4 hurricane, surprising residents of an area where such a storm had not been recorded in the modern era.
More than 35,000 homes in parts of Cabo Delgado, in the far north of Mozambique, were partially or totally destroyed by the storm.
The images shared by OCHA showed rows of wooden houses, separated by sandy paths, almost completely shaved. Only a few structures and some coconut palms remained standing.
"No more houses are standing," Abreu told reporters.
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