At least 16 people have died and 59 others have been injured after Cyclone Jude tore through northern Mozambique earlier this week, Mozambique’s National Institute of Disaster Management (INGD) said on Saturday, as the country faces mounting challenges in its recovery efforts.
The cyclone made landfall on Monday, unleashing heavy rains and powerful winds that left a trail of destruction across multiple provinces. In a statement issued Saturday, the INGD confirmed the growing toll of the storm, which has also displaced tens of thousands and damaged critical infrastructure.
“Despite mitigation efforts, Cyclone Jude has already killed 16 people, injured 59, and two individuals are still missing,” the INGD said. It added that more than 302,000 people had been affected nationwide, including over 65,000 families who have lost their homes or suffered significant property damage.
According to disaster management officials, nearly 33,000 buildings have been completely destroyed. In addition to residential areas, the cyclone has severely impacted public infrastructure, with 18 bridges washed away, nearly 2,860 kilometers of roads damaged, and approximately 672 kilometers rendered impassable.
The storm also disrupted power supplies across several regions. INGD reported that 1,224 electricity poles were toppled and around 73 kilometers of power lines were brought down, further hampering recovery and relief operations.
The cyclone is the latest in a series of severe weather events to hit Mozambique in recent years. In December 2024, Cyclone Chido left at least 120 people dead, and nearly 900 injured, and caused significant damage to more than 155,000 homes.
Mozambique, located in a region frequently impacted by tropical storms and cyclones, continues to face mounting pressure to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness as extreme weather becomes increasingly frequent.
Authorities say they are coordinating emergency assistance to affected communities and assessing further needs on the ground.
