By BBCMore by this AuthorThe official death toll from Cyclone Idai, which tore through southern Africa more than a week ago, rose sharply on Saturday as authorities reported scores more deaths. The number of people declared dead in Mozambique rose from 242 to 417, Land and Environment Minister Celso Correia said. The new figure puts the overall death toll at about 700 people across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Cyclone Idai made landfall near Beira, a city of 500,000 people, with 177km/h (106 mph) winds on March 14. Aid groups said Mozambique had borne the brunt of flooding from rivers that flow downstream from neighbouring countries.

Source: Daily Nation March 24, 2019 01:41 UTC