More than 1,000 people are feared dead in Mozambique and Zimbabwe as the flood catastrophe caused by Tropical Cyclone Idai persists. Drier weather is expected to finally return later this weekend.
The combined death toll from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi stands at around 350, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Many more are feared dead.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi estimates that 1,000 people of his country may have been killed in what has become one of the most destructive nature disasters in the region's recent history, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
(Photo/European Space Agency)
This image is from Copernicus Sentinel-1 and shows the extent of flooding, depicted in red, around the port town of Beira in Mozambique on March 19, 2019.
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Schoolchildren are stranded across a collapsed bridge in Chimanimani, southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
An elderly woman stands next to a collapsed bridge in Chimanimani, about 600 kilometers southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
A man carries loaves of bread across a collapsed bridge in Chimanimani, southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Police keep a close watch as a loader clears the road in Chimanimani, southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Soldiers carry supplies to areas affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani, about 600 kilometers southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
A man stands on the edge of a collapsed bridge in Chimanimani, about 600 kilometers southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
People trudge through a muddied path to safer ground in Chimanimani, about 600 kilometers southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
A collapsed road near a bridge is seen in Chimanimani, southeast of Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Zimbabwean officials stated that roughly 350 people may have lost their lives. Some of the victims were swept away by floodwaters down a mountainside in Zimbabwe onto Mozambican soil.
Idai barreled onshore north of Beira, Mozambique, late last week with its strength equivalent to a Category 3 major hurricane in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans.
Localized downpours will continue to hinder rescue and recovery efforts into Saturday. Ongoing flooding can be aggravated in some areas, while isolated landslides can be triggered.
Download the free AccuWeather app to remain aware of any flooding rain threatening your community.
Drier weather is expected to finally grace the region later this weekend and early next week.
Rescue teams race to save hundreds trapped by #Mozambiquecyclone https://t.co/4HP1jyX1eS #Idai #CycloneIdai #CicloneIdaipic.twitter.com/ftCzPv9vsr— Club of Mozambique (@clubOmozambique) March 20, 2019
The number of people affected by the cyclone may rise from the current estimates of 2 million, according to Oxfam International.
More than 900 people were rescued from the devastation at midweek with the majority saved by boats, the AP stated. Families have been clinging to trees and rooftops waiting to be rescued.
Mozambique officials told BBC News that roughly 15,000 people have yet to be rescued.
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Ninety percent of the port city of Beira remains underwater and without communications.
"Food prices are sky-rocketing [in Beira],” said Rotafina Donco, Oxfam Country Director in Mozambique. Those rescued from the city and now living in transit camps have been without food for days, she said.
Shocking scenes of the destruction and aftermath in #Beira, Mozambique after the affects of Tropical #Cyclone #Idai. Source: Meteo Tras Os Montes. #severeweather #ExtremeWeatherpic.twitter.com/KlgKEtUefh— WEATHER/ METEO WORLD (@StormchaserUKEU) March 21, 2019
Other aid workers told BBC News that the city may run out of clean water in two to three days.
Satellite images and other footage from the area continue to reveal the magnitude of this catastrophe.
A United Nations official described "an inland ocean" to have formed in central Mozambique as rivers overflowed their banks around Lake Urema, the New York Times reported.
“This is the worst humanitarian crisis in Mozambique’s recent history," said Jamie LeSueur, who is coordinating relief efforts for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. "It is a humanitarian catastrophe for the people of Central Mozambique. Large parts of Beira have been damaged, entire villages and towns have been completely flooded. Rescuers are scrambling to pull people trapped on rooftops and in trees to safety. Many, many families have lost everything,” LeSueur said.
Mozambique has declared a state of emergency and three days of mourning due to the deadly impacts of Idai.
This map shows rainfall accumulation from March 13 to March 20, 2019 across Mozambique and surrounding areas. (Image/NASA)
Mercy Corps said it was delivering aid to affected regions of eastern Zimbabwe, including the Chipinge district in Manicaland province. Aid groups are delivering essential items such as emergency water, hygiene and sanitation supplies.
"Our teams are still striving to reach Chimanimani, which is the district most cut off from relief efforts," said Mercy Corps Director of Programs in Zimbabwe, Mildred Makore. "There is no power, and hospitals have run out of fuel to operate backup generators. Time is of the essence as we race to reach people affected."
"Manicaland province is dominated by rugged mountains so getting to affected communities is not straightforward. With bridges destroyed, we have to rely on air support to transport our urgent relief the final mile.”
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