Death toll from Zimbabwe’s cyclone rises

Rescue efforts were made in eastern Zimbabwe on Tuesday in distressed areas from Cyclone Idai’s trail of destruction with nearly 100 people dead and hundreds missing.

The cyclone killed at least 98 people and more than 200 are missing in Zimbabwe, the government said on Monday.

Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri who visited the area told victims she hadn’t anticipated Cyclone Idai being so bad while lamenting over the lack of alertness by the community and the government.

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“We had heard that floods were coming and a cyclone, but we had not moved or done anything to help ourselves,” Muchinguri said.

“I think we as people of Manicaland [province] have learnt a lesson and next time we will protect lives and urge people to move knowing what will happen, and we move into camps together with the government’s help,” she added.

Idai is said to be the worst to hit the Southern Africa region since the shattering Cyclone Eline in 2000.

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