24 March

The death toll from Cyclone Idai that ripped through southeastern Africa in mid-March has exceeded 700.

As of Saturday, the confirmed deaths stood at 417 in Mozambique, 259 in Zimbabwe, and 56 in Malawi. Aid workers say the figures are certain to rise as flood waters recede. The storm brought heavy rain and intense winds to the three countries. One of the worst hit areas is Mozambique's port city of Beira where most of its downtown areas have been flooded.

The UN and other aid agencies have been rushing to deliver food and water to hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their inundated homes. The agencies say they have been airlifting the supplies as flooding has made roads impassable. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it has confirmed cases of cholera in disaster-stricken areas.

The federation adds that infectious illnesses could further spread due to deteriorating hygienic conditions.—NHK