The declaration was made on Tuesday night in a cabinet announcement in which the government also confirmed that bodies for at least 202 have so far been recovered following violent tropical cyclone that has devastated the port city of Beira in Sofala province since last week.
At least 23,000 homes have been destroyed by the storm as well as 30 health units and several schools in the region.
“Given the situation, the cabinet has decided to declare three days of nation mourning in the Republic of Mozambique from midnight on 20 March 2019 and flags will be flying at half-mast in all the country´s foreign missions and consular,” the statement said.
The deaths were mainly due to the collapse of homes and other infrastructure and drownings.
The city of Beira, one of the largest in the country with over half a million inhabitants, was hardest hit by the cyclone.
The provincial capital is partially destroyed and it is still without electricity while communication is limited. The same scenario occurs in other parts of the province, hindering relief operations.
The number of victims is likely to rise as more and more areas become accessible to rescuers.