Mozambican authorities have warned of precautionary measures as heavy rains are forecast late Tuesday in Maputo and Gaza provinces after a severe tropical storm hit the country.
The National Center for Emergency Situations (CENOE) called for storing food, school materials and documents in safe places, checking and seeking safe shelter from authorities, and strengthening the security of roofs and windows of houses with sustainable material.
CENOE also recommends in a statement sent to the media that citizens remain attentive to information from competent authorities, remove small boats from the water to safe places and pay attention to the elderly, children and people with disabilities.
The National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) said on Tuesday that the province of Inhambane, one of the affected areas, continued to record rain, a phenomenon that could spread to the Gaza province in the south of the country from tonight.
“Gaza will be attacked at night, and early in the morning tomorrow [quarta-feira] the system will start to hit the city and province of Maputo,” said Luse Acacio Tembe from Inama, adding that the storm “will move out to sea at the end of the day.”
Inam confirmed that Severe Tropical Storm Filipo entered the continent at 05:00 (03:00 in Lisbon) through the Inhassoro area of Inhambane, heading southwest towards Maputo.
“Over the next 24 hours, the system will continue to move in a southwesterly direction, which may also impact the weather, characterized by very heavy rain, maximum wind speeds of 90 km/h and gusts of up to 120 km/h,” reads the warning from Inam.
Severe tropical storm Filipo left nearly 100,000 people in Mozambique without power and caused the destruction of homes and other infrastructure in affected regions.
Mozambican authorities estimate that around 525,000 people could be affected by Severe Tropical Storm Filipo, which is expected to hit the provinces of Sofala, central Mozambique, Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo.
Mozambique is considered one of the countries worst hit by climate change in the world, experiencing cyclical floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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