Tropical Cyclone Jude caused power outages for over 272,000 customers in Nampula, Mozambique, damaging significant infrastructure and affecting thousands. The cyclone has led to at least six fatalities, displacing many residents and impacting schools. Recovery efforts are hampered by blocked access roads amid ongoing heavy rainfall predictions.
On Wednesday, Mozambican electricity company Eletricidade de Mozambique (EDM) reported that 272,757 customers are without power in Nampula province due to Tropical Cyclone Jude. The cyclone resulted in damage to 74 kilometers of medium and low voltage lines, as well as the collapse of six transformer stations and two high-voltage towers along the line connecting Namialo and Monapoque.
The districts of Nampula, Angoche, and Nacala experienced power outages affecting around 15 districts and nearby neighborhoods. The estimated damage from Cyclone Jude amounts to approximately 100 million meticais (about €1.4 million). Access roads remain blocked, hindering restoration efforts, though power supply has returned to some areas, including sections of Nampula, Nacala, and the districts of Monapo, Liupo, and Mongicual.
Cyclone Jude’s impact has been severe, resulting in at least six fatalities, 20 injuries, and displacing 9,525 people in the provinces of Nampula, Niassa, and Zambézia. Additionally, 17,401 schoolchildren, 264 teachers, 59 schools, and 181 classrooms have been affected. The cyclone entered Mozambique with winds reaching 140 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 195 kilometers per hour.
Meteorologist Manuel Francisco noted the cyclone soon transitioned into a severe tropical storm and is forecasted to generate heavy rainfall, potentially reaching 250 millimeters within 24 hours. The INGD anticipates Cyclone Jude may impact a total of 341,000 people and emergency operational committees are activated to coordinate relief efforts.
Mozambique is currently experiencing its rainy season, with cyclones Chido and Dikeledi having already created significant disruptions from December to January, affecting approximately 736,000 people and leading to extensive infrastructural damage. Extreme weather events have caused over 1,000 deaths and affected nearly 4.9 million people in Mozambique from 2019 to 2023, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to climate change, which brings cyclical flooding and drought.
Cyclone Jude has severely disrupted life in northern Mozambique, causing widespread power outages and significant damage to infrastructure. With ongoing relief efforts, the extent of the cyclone’s impact underscores the broader challenges faced by Mozambique amid increasing climate change-related weather events, highlighting the need for enhanced disaster preparedness and response measures.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
