Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, thunderstorms, and lightning has claimed five lives leaving fifteen others severely wounded with a trail of destruction in Mozambique’s southern Gaza province.
The spokesperson of Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the area, Bonifacio Cardoso said most of the casualties are victims of lightning strikes.
He urged people to take precautionary measures including staying indoors during thunderstorms.
The heavy rains which lasted 24 hours over the weekend destroyed 5,000 houses and caused six health centres to be partially submerged.
More than 394,000 people could be affected by floods in the province in the current rainy and cyclone season, which runs until the end of March.
The Mozambican disaster agency has already deployed emergency teams to the area with boats, foodstuff, tents and blankets in readiness for the expected flooding.