Tropical Cyclone Jude has battered Mozambique’s northern Nampula province since making landfall near the port city of Nacala on Sunday night, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and prompting authorities to close schools.
By Monday morning, the cyclone was about 100 kilometres inland, with winds reaching 120 kilometres per hour, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.
Heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimetres in 24 hours was forecast for coastal districts such as Memba, Monapo, Mossuril, Mozambique Island and Nacala.
The provincial education directorate was forced to order the closure of schools on Monday as a precaution.
The cyclone downed electricity pylons, leaving about 40,000 households without power on Monday, while the national carrier Mozambique Airlines cancelled all domestic flights to northern cities – assuring passengers that they would be accommodated once conditions improve.
The storm was expected to weaken as it moved westward and was anticipated to make landfall in neighbouring Malawi on Tuesday afternoon.
JN/APA