A cyclone feared to have left a thousand dead in Mozambique is possibly the worst weather disaster ever to hit the southern hemisphere, the UN has declared, Sky News Reports
Some 1.7 million people were said to have been in the path of 105 mph Cyclone Idai in the East African nation while hundreds of thousands more were affected in neighbouring Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Storm surge floods up to 20ft deep had caused ‘incredible devastation’ over a huge area, World Food Programme regional chief Lola Castro said.
“Rescue crews are still struggling to assess the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai which swept in at speeds of up to 170 kph (105 mph) from the Indian Ocean late last week, hitting Mozambique, then its inland neighbours Zimbabwe and Malawi”.
As is often the case after these type of environmental or natural disasters, the event itself is only part of the problem. Roads and bridges have been washed away, so rescue agencies are unable to reach those trapped or isolated. Sadly, many more are likely to perish as a result of them being trapped or isolated and out of the reach of rescue agencies.
Multi Person Helicopter Rescue is part of the solution. The ability to airlift supplies and medical equipment in, and carry vulnerable or injured casualties out in the same lift cycle.
