Second storm threatens to devastate Mozambique

A SECOND powerful cyclone has made landfall in Mozambique, demolishing homes, killing at least three people and threatening “massive flooding”.

Cyclone Kenneth, a category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130mph, hit the north of the country last night, only six weeks after Cyclone Idai caused widespread destruction in the centre of the African country.

There were more than 600 recorded deaths following Idai but NGOS and others on the ground believe the true number is higher as tens of thousands have been displaced and record keeping in the world’s 10th poorest country is notoriously unreliable.

Over the next 10 days, Kenneth is expected to dump twice as much rain as Idai did last month.

Richard Sharp, leader of Team Rubicon UK, a British NGO that was praised for its rapid response and ability to get into the most remote areas in the first cyclone, said rain was falling in the north at a rate of 3in an hour.

Mr Sharp said: “The ground is already saturated. We can’t be sure but we expect widespread floods. It is estimated that there are 700,000 people at risk, with 100,000 at a most high risk [as they live in] riverbank settlements. “We are building up new teams to de- ploy as and when they may be needed. We estimate that we have about three days to plan and observe based on how things played out last time.”

It was the first time the south-east African nation has been hit by two cyclones in one season, the UN said, renewing concerns over climate change.

The local emergency operations centre said a falling tree killed a woman in the city of Pemba and a “high number” of houses in the Macomia district were destroyed. Four ships sank off Palma town, with no reported deaths. On Ibo island, 90 per cent of houses in the main village were destroyed.