Cyclone Idai devastates Mozambique and Zimbabwe | All media content | DW | 19.03.2019

We use cookies to improve our service for you. You can find more information in our data protection declaration.

More info OK
  1. Inhalt
  2. Navigation
  3. Weitere Inhalte
  4. Metanavigation
  5. Suche
  6. Choose from 30 Languages

News

Cyclone Idai devastates Mozambique and Zimbabwe

The storm is one of the worst disasters to ever hit the area, authorities said. Hundreds of people are missing and the death toll continues to rise.

  • The Indian Ocean port city of Beira in Mozambique was the first to be hit by Idai. The impact knocked out power, flooded roads and toppled homes. The Red Cross described the destruction in Beira as massive and horrifying.

    Beira bears the brunt

    Beira on Mozambique's Indian Ocean coastline was the first city to be hit by Idai. The impact knocked out power, flooded roads and brought down homes. The Red Cross, an international charity, described the destruction in Beira as "massive and horrifying."

  • Zimbabwe's eastern district of Chimanimani was the country's worst-hit, with houses washed away by flash floods.

    Many homes lost

    Zimbabwe's eastern district of Chimanimani was the country's worst-hit. Many residents saw their homes washed away by flash floods. Acting Defense Minister Perrance Shiri said the devastation resembled "the aftermath of a full-scale war." In Mozambique, at least 400,000 people were left homeless.

  • In both Mozambique (pictured) and Zimbabwe, some roads were swallowed up by massive sinkholes, while flash floods ripped bridges to pieces .This is the worst infrastructural damage we have ever had, Zimbabwe's Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said.

    Roads and bridges collapse

    In both Mozambique (pictured) and Zimbabwe, sinkholes destroyed roads and flash floods washed away bridges. "This is the worst infrastructural damage we have ever had," said Joel Biggie Matiza, Zimbabwe's transport and infrastructural development minister.

  • UN agencies and the Red Cross helped rush emergency food and medicine by helicopter to the stricken countries. In Zimbabwe, soldiers began delivering aid to those they could reach. But most affected areas were not yet accessible on Monday, due to continued bad weather in the area.

    Relief efforts underway

    The United Nations and international charity groups delivered aid by helicopter to both countries. Zimbabwe's army also brought aid to those they could reach. But many areas were still inaccessible as a result of persistent bad weather. "This is the worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique's recent history," said Jamie LeSueur from International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

  • Cyclone Idai could prove to be the deadliest storm to hit Mozambique. President Filipe Nyusi said there may be at least 1,000 dead. In Zimbabwe, 98 people died and at least 217 more are missing so far, a figure that is expected to climb. With every hour and day that passes, our worst fears become increasingly real, Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said.

    Death toll climbing

    Cyclone Idai might be the deadliest storm to have ever hit Mozambique. President Filipe Nyusi said the death toll could rise to at least 1,000. At least 200 people have been confirmed dead and officials said they expect that figure to rise. "With every hour and day that passes, our worst fears become increasingly real," President Emmerson Mnangagwa said.

  • Simbabwe, Chimanimani: Zyklon „Idai“ in Mosambik und Simbabwe (picture-alliance/S. Jusa)

    Difficulty retrieving bodies

    Zimbabwean Local Government Minister July Moyo told reporters at a post-cabinet meeting that the current toll for his country was around 100. "The total number, we were told they could be 100, some are saying there could be 300. But we cannot confirm this situation," he said. "I understand there are bodies which are floating, some have floated all the way to Mozambique," said Moyo.

  • Mozambique's government had issued flood warnings, with heavy rains forecasted for the next 24 hours, including in areas already devastated by Idai. Many residents headed back to their homes anyway. The biggest threat we have now, even bigger than the cyclone, is floods because it's raining more and more, Alberto Mondlane, governor of Mozambique's hard-hit Sofala province said.

    More rain expected

    Mozambique said it expects more heavy rain in the next few days and had issued flood warnings. Many residents nevertheless returned to their homes. The "biggest threat we have now, even bigger than the cyclone, is floods because it's raining more and more," said Alberto Mondlane, governor of Mozambique's hard-hit Sofala province.


  • The Indian Ocean port city of Beira in Mozambique was the first to be hit by Idai. The impact knocked out power, flooded roads and toppled homes. The Red Cross described the destruction in Beira as massive and horrifying.

    Beira bears the brunt

    Beira on Mozambique's Indian Ocean coastline was the first city to be hit by Idai. The impact knocked out power, flooded roads and brought down homes. The Red Cross, an international charity, described the destruction in Beira as "massive and horrifying."

  • Zimbabwe's eastern district of Chimanimani was the country's worst-hit, with houses washed away by flash floods.

    Many homes lost

    Zimbabwe's eastern district of Chimanimani was the country's worst-hit. Many residents saw their homes washed away by flash floods. Acting Defense Minister Perrance Shiri said the devastation resembled "the aftermath of a full-scale war." In Mozambique, at least 400,000 people were left homeless.

  • In both Mozambique (pictured) and Zimbabwe, some roads were swallowed up by massive sinkholes, while flash floods ripped bridges to pieces .This is the worst infrastructural damage we have ever had, Zimbabwe's Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said.

    Roads and bridges collapse

    In both Mozambique (pictured) and Zimbabwe, sinkholes destroyed roads and flash floods washed away bridges. "This is the worst infrastructural damage we have ever had," said Joel Biggie Matiza, Zimbabwe's transport and infrastructural development minister.

  • UN agencies and the Red Cross helped rush emergency food and medicine by helicopter to the stricken countries. In Zimbabwe, soldiers began delivering aid to those they could reach. But most affected areas were not yet accessible on Monday, due to continued bad weather in the area.

    Relief efforts underway

    The United Nations and international charity groups delivered aid by helicopter to both countries. Zimbabwe's army also brought aid to those they could reach. But many areas were still inaccessible as a result of persistent bad weather. "This is the worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique's recent history," said Jamie LeSueur from International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

  • Cyclone Idai could prove to be the deadliest storm to hit Mozambique. President Filipe Nyusi said there may be at least 1,000 dead. In Zimbabwe, 98 people died and at least 217 more are missing so far, a figure that is expected to climb. With every hour and day that passes, our worst fears become increasingly real, Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said.

    Death toll climbing

    Cyclone Idai might be the deadliest storm to have ever hit Mozambique. President Filipe Nyusi said the death toll could rise to at least 1,000. At least 200 people have been confirmed dead and officials said they expect that figure to rise. "With every hour and day that passes, our worst fears become increasingly real," President Emmerson Mnangagwa said.

  • Simbabwe, Chimanimani: Zyklon „Idai“ in Mosambik und Simbabwe (picture-alliance/S. Jusa)

    Difficulty retrieving bodies

    Zimbabwean Local Government Minister July Moyo told reporters at a post-cabinet meeting that the current toll for his country was around 100. "The total number, we were told they could be 100, some are saying there could be 300. But we cannot confirm this situation," he said. "I understand there are bodies which are floating, some have floated all the way to Mozambique," said Moyo.

  • Mozambique's government had issued flood warnings, with heavy rains forecasted for the next 24 hours, including in areas already devastated by Idai. Many residents headed back to their homes anyway. The biggest threat we have now, even bigger than the cyclone, is floods because it's raining more and more, Alberto Mondlane, governor of Mozambique's hard-hit Sofala province said.

    More rain expected

    Mozambique said it expects more heavy rain in the next few days and had issued flood warnings. Many residents nevertheless returned to their homes. The "biggest threat we have now, even bigger than the cyclone, is floods because it's raining more and more," said Alberto Mondlane, governor of Mozambique's hard-hit Sofala province.


More in the Media Center

Mozambique begins cholera vaccine campaign 03.04.2019

Cyclone Idai has wreaked havoc on infrastructures 19.03.2019

DW News Africa Sendungslogo

DW News Africa with Christine Mhundwa, 03 April 2019 03.04.2019

Zimbabwe: Recovery efforts underway after cyclone Idai 24.03.2019

Read also

Mosambik,Chimanimani: Kinder tragen Trinkwasser

Cyclone Idai: A race against time 29.03.2019

In southeast Africa, the search is on for Cyclone Idai's victims. In Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi, people are digging with shovels and their bare hands to find their loved ones. But it's a race against time.

Ausmaß der Überflutung, rot dargestellt, am 19. März in der Hafenstadt Beira in Mosambik

Mozambique: Death toll rises after Cyclone Idai floods and rain 24.03.2019

Aid agencies have warned the humanitarian disaster in Mozambique following Cyclone Idai could be similar to those in Yemen and Syria. Authorities fear it will only get worse.

Simbabwe Wirbelsturm «Idai»

Cyclone Idai wreaks havoc across southeastern Africa 20.03.2019

Thousands of people remain without food or shelter days after the storm made landfall on the coast of Mozambique. As communities struggle with the scale of loss, neighboring countries have pledged humanitarian support.

Mosambik Wirbelsturm Idai

Aid agencies in race against time after Cyclone Idai 23.03.2019

With heavily-populated areas of Mozambique now covered by a massive lake, survivors of Cyclone Idai face disease and hunger. Aid agencies say time is running out for the victims.