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Catholic Bishop in Mozambique Recounts “night of terror” as Devastating Cyclone Sweeps Away Houses, Roofs of Chapels

Credit: ACN

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nacala in Mozambique has recounted the terrifying events of March 10 when Cyclone Jude hit several districts in the southern African country, leaving a trail of destruction.

Speaking to Catholic charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International a few hours after the cyclone hit Nampula province which is served by the Diocese of Nacala, Bishop Alberto Vera Aréjula  projected months of hunger for the victims who were left homeless by the calamity.

“It was a night of terror,” Bishop Vera said in the Wednesday, March 12 report, recounting the third cyclone passing through the region in four months.

He added, “The people were demoralized because this year’s corn harvest, which was good, was destroyed by the cyclone, which means months of hunger in Nampula.”

Cyclone Jude hit Nampula and Zambézia provinces, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that are said to have caused widespread damage and forced many people to leave their homes.

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World Vision Mozambique reports that 2,155 people from 380 families were affected by the cyclone, with one fatality and 18 injuries reported.

The cyclone's powerful winds and heavy rains are said to have completely destroyed 380 homes and partially damaged 28 others, leaving countless families without shelter.   

According to World Vision Mozambique, the cyclone's impact extended beyond residential areas, severely affecting critical infrastructure.

Twenty-four health facilities are reported to have suffered damage, hindering access to essential medical services. The education sector also took a significant hit, with 27 schools damaged, disrupting the education of 2,266 students and the work of 158 teachers. 

Bishop Vera speaks to ACN about the hours “of terror along the entire coast”, with the cyclone leaving many chapels, schools and pastoral centers without roofs.

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“The destruction is very extensive. Around half of the mud houses in the 10 districts of the Diocese of Nacala were damaged. Many chapels, schools and pastoral centres were left without roofs,” the Bishop said in a message he sent to ACN.

He added, “The most terrible thing, in all the districts, was the heavy rains, accompanied by very strong winds, of 100 to 150 kilometres per hour. Several bridges were destroyed, cutting off communications between Nacala-a-Velha and Memba, between Liupo and Angoche.”

The Diocese of Nacala has been particularly affected by the passage of cyclones at this time of year. In January, Cyclone Dikeledi also left a trail of enormous destruction, with many houses and churches destroyed or partially damaged and thousands of people without electricity, to the point that the Bishop Vera then put forward an emergency plan at diocesan level to purchase building materials, such as sheet metal, nails and beams, for the most urgent works in chapels, schools and other communal buildings.

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.