14 February 2008
Maputo — Storms in the northern province of Nampula have killed eight, people, and have destroyed 809 houses and 80 classrooms, according to a report in Thursday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".
Figures contained in a report presented on Sunday during a meeting of the Nampula provincial government, called to analyse the emergency situation created by the storms, explained that four of the deaths were caused by lightning strikes in Monapo district, one person was swept away by the current, while trying to cross the swollen Muite river, in Mecuburi district, while the other three were killed when their houses collapsed.
The government says that, in terms of damaged infrastructure, the provincial capital, Nampula city, has suffered most heavily, followed by the districts of Mogovolas and Monapo.
The reported, produced by the provincial delegation of the government's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), adds that many roads have become impassable.
The rise in the Monapo, Muite, Lalaua, Maluli, and Mutivaze rivers is making traffic difficult in half of the 20 districts of the province, particularly along roads linking localities and administrative posts. Some of the bridges over those rivers now require substantial repairs.
To mitigate the suffering of families who have lost their homes, the INGC in Nampula has been distributing building materials, and also provided materials to rebuild the destroyed classrooms.
The Nampula INGC delegate, Cesar Tembe, said that, to help the victims, his institution received 2 million meticais (about 80,000 US dollars), of which 770,000 meticais have already been used to purchase building materials and foodstuffs.
In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Mozambican Red Cross, the INGC has worked out an emergency plan, with attention focused particularly on the coastal districts, thought to be the most vulnerable to cyclones. February is generally considered the peak month for cyclones.
To execute the plan, the authorities have prepared 56 boats, to rescue eventual victims, and have in stock 1,425 tonnes of assorted foodstuffs, including rice, beans, and vegetable oil.
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