Maputo – Tropical storm Dineo has killed seven people in Mozambique since it hit the eastern coast on Wednesday, the government's disaster centre said on Thursday.
The storm, has brought heavy rain and winds of up to 160 km an hour (100 mph), raising the risk of flooding and crop damage in the impoverished southern African country.
#Dineo National Emergency Operation centre director Mauricio Xerinda addressing the media #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/JIowDECvna
— Tumelo Machogo ® (@IamTumelo) February 16, 2017
Mozambique's emergency operational centre said in a statement about 130,000 people living in the Inhambane province, 500 km north of the capital Maputo, had been affected by the storm. About 20,000 homes were destroyed by heavy rains and fierce winds.
Ciclone #Dineo deixou sete mortos e 55 feridos em Inhambane #Moçambique pic.twitter.com/IntGNizYAn
— Verdade Democracia (@DemocraciaMZ) February 16, 2017
One of the world's poorest countries and also in the throes of a financial crisis, Mozambique is prone to flooding. It is especially vulnerable after a major drought last year as soils degraded or hardened by dry spells do not easily absorb water.
#Dineo seriously need a prayer in Mozambique @SowetanLIVE @SABCNewsOnline @eNCA pic.twitter.com/64zYw5iysP
— Hasani V Mathebula (@MathebulaXibomb) February 16, 2017
The Mozambican government said the situation was less severe in Gaza, which has the popular resort town of Xai-Xai as its capital and is near the border with South Africa.
Government said however that it feared flooding in the area due to the torrential downpour.
Experts said the storm should weaken as it moves over land, but that it could still bring heavy rainfall.
Tropical cyclone #dineo has arrived in Limpopo @eNCAWeather @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/X4TmIpd8Fz
— 👤 (@VenrapVsVentrap) February 16, 2017
Damage could be inflicted on Mozambique's multi-million dollar macadamia nut industry. Subsistence maize farmers recovering from last year's El Nino-triggered drought are also at risk.
Floods in 2000 and 2001 killed hundreds of people in Mozambique and two cyclones in January 2012 killed 26 and displaced more than 125 000, according to official data.