No fewer than four people have lost their and three others sustained injuries after trembling lightning strikes in Mozambique.
The lightning strikes happened in the northern town of Mogincual, in Nampula province.
The government officials confirming the development have placed the southern and central provinces of Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala and Zambézia on alert as the country braced for Storm Filipo.
Filipo has made landfall and may intensify into a severe tropical storm before dissipating at sea. It is forecast to move south and cross Inhambane Province, after that, it will move south-eastwards over the southern Indian Ocean strengthening.
According to the UN OCHA, more than 525,000 people, 856 schools, and 145 health centres are located in the areas considered to be at risk due to the passage of the cyclone.
In addition, since the beginning of the rainy season that is affecting the country, 55,494 people have been impacted, more than 3,500 houses have been partially or completely destroyed, and 191 schools have been affected.
Increased rainfall has already been recorded and there are fears of mudslides. Boats and vessels are being warned by Mozambique’s National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) to take precautions.
Natural disasters are common in Mozambique, particularly during the rainy and cyclone season which runs between October and April.
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