Stranded Zimbabwe Families 'Airlifted to Safety' |
Two Air Force of
Zimbabwe helicopters were deployed to airlift to safety at least 50
families stranded by floods this weekend in the southern district of
Tsholotsho, a minister said.
Higher Education
Minister Jonathan Moyo, who is MP for the area, said on Twitter that
tents had been set up to house the rescued, who come from Sipepa
district. The area was cut out when the Gwayi river burst its banks as
tropical storm Dineo hit the southern African country, reports say.
"National,
Provincial & Tsholotsho [civil protection units] with NGOs are
helping at least 50 families affected by flooding in Ward 6. Massive
crop destruction!" Moyo tweeted. The official Chronicle on Monday quoted
an official saying locals believed up to 80 families might have been
stranded "but we really can't say."
Eight helicopter trips had already been made by late Sunday night, said the Chronicle.
The Metereological
Services Department of Zimbabwe confirmed in a statement that police
divers had dispatched a team to Sipepa. The "sub aqua unit" is normally
used to retrieve bodies though there is no confirmation yet that lives
have been lost.
The department said
there had been "unprecedented" flooding in Insiza district, also in
southern Zimbabwe. It said a man had drowned in Mberengwa district in
central Midlands province.
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