No fewer than four people have been killed by lightning strikes in Mozambique’s western province of Tete, the Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) announced on Wednesday.
News Central reports that Tete shares a border with neighbouring Malawi.
According to the institute, the victims include an elderly woman and a three-year-old child. One other victim was seriously injured and a residence set ablaze.
The incident follows a rainstorm accompanied by strong winds that left a trail of destruction in southern Mozambique.
Tete’s National Disaster Management Institute delegate, Alex Angelo, said the torrential rain also caused damage in Maputo province on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning.
He added that thunderstorms, wind and heavy rain brought down trees and power poles and damaged public infrastructure in the districts of Matola, Boane and Marracuene.
The storm also destroyed homes, uprooted trees and electricity poles and blew away the roofs of some schools and a local prosecutor’s office.
The destruction occurred mainly in four districts within the province.
The meteorological authorities predict the bad weather may continue for four more days.
The situation is likely to cause flooding in the cities of Beira and Dondo, which were devastated by cyclone Idai last year, and cause erosion in Chimoio.
Meteorologist Acacio Tembe says the torrential rains are beginning a week earlier than expected and they will continue for long.
He added that the rains may cause the flooding of the Buzi and Pungue rivers.