Cyclone Jokwe bears down on Mozambique

As tropical cyclone Jokwe threatened the tourism districts of Vilankulo and Govuro on Wednesday, the government of Inhambane province advised business owners and residents to take precautions, reported Radio Mozambique.

Quoting sources in the Inhambane province, 800km north of Maputo, the state broadcaster reported that the owners of tourism establishments near the coast were being encouraged to close their businesses, while residents were being told to be on the alert.

Cyclone Jokwe is expected to hit the coast of Inhambane province—home to some of Mozambique’s top tourism facilities—between Wednesday and Thursday.

Most tourism establishments in Vilankulo and Govuro are owned by South African companies. They are also a favourite destination for South African tourists.

On Tuesday afternoon, the cyclone was located less than 180km from the Mozambican coast and was blowing strong winds of up to 50km/h.

At the time, Joao Ribeiro, deputy director of the disaster management institute, said that Vilankulo and Govuro were on yellow alert.

In a report issued on Tuesday, the United Nations said its organisations in Mozambique had begun mobilising relief aid, including specialists in water and sanitation, education and social policy; water purification products; and plastic sheeting to cover houses with no roofs.

The storm had so far affected the northern province of Nampula the worst but flooding was expected to intensify in central provinces.

In a bulletin on Wednesday, the national weather service said the cyclone had moved back to the high seas in the direction of Madagascar, but there was a possibility of it returning to the Mozambican coast. - Sapa