WATCH: Minister says ‘300’ bodies of Zim cyclone victims floating in Mozambique

SOME 300 dead victims of last week’s deadly Cyclone Idai in Manicaland have been washed away into neighbouring Mozambique where they have been spotted floating by villagers.

This was said by Local Government Minister July Moyo at a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare Tuesday.

The disaster that hit the country from Friday last week killed nearly a hundred locals with more reportedly still missing.

In his comments, Moyo said some locals were being contacted by villagers from Rusitu, a Zimbabwean area and those in neighbouring Mozambique informing them of the shock situation.

“The distress calls started coming from Kopa, in Rusitu where two rivers which converge there burst and we understand there are bodies which are floating.

“Some have floated all the way into Mozambique and some of the peasants in Mozambique were calling some of our people saying that ‘we see bodies, we believe those bodies are coming from Zimbabwe’.

“The total number we were told there could be a hundred, some going as far as saying there could be 300 but we cannot confirm this situation; our army is going on foot to Rusitu in order to go and assess the situation on the ground,” said Moyo.

Moyo said areas around Kopa, Chikukwa, Ngangu and Chimanimani were hardest hit by the disaster while the effects of the cyclone in remote villages were yet to be determined as there was no means of communication.

However, some 98 deaths have so far been confirmed while some 172 people are unaccounted for.

The number is expected to rise, according to the minister.

“The number of casualties has been a fast-moving figure. Most of the casualties come from either collapsed buildings and people are trapped in the collapsed buildings or secondly the mudslides and people are buried under and we have not moved enough equipment to do the job of excavating.

“People have resorted to using shovels. That is why it is important for us to move equipment out there. Some have been taken by rivers which come and sweep the whole homestead…this 98 I am sure will not be the last we will hear.”

Moyo said government was not able to tell whether the missing people are part of bodies reportedly floating in Rusitu and some parts of Mozambique.

Chikomba, Buhera, Mutare Urban and Rural, Mutasa, Nyanga are some of the areas affected by Cyclone Idai.

However, government says the areas do not have the intensity of the devastation witnessed in Chipinge and Chimanimani.

Government is currently exploring methods of transporting food and other amenities that include clothing and shelter as all roads and bridges to affected areas were washed away.

The army and air force are currently using helicopters to rescue marooned villagers in far-flung areas.

Crowdfunding initiatives have been set in motion in a bid to raise funds to finance the rescue and rehabilitation of victims.

Government has since donated RTGS$50 000 towards the cause.

Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique the hardest on Sunday, is being regarded as the worst natural disaster to hit the region in years.

Some 1,000 people have been reported dead in Mozambique.