Tropical Cyclone Jude killed nine people, displaced thousands, and caused severe flooding in Mozambique and Malawi, hampering relief efforts.

At least nine people have lost their lives due to Tropical Cyclone Jude in Mozambique and Malawi, officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) in Mozambique, the cyclone claimed six lives, left 20 people injured, and displaced 9,525 residents. The affected areas include the northern provinces of Nampula and Niassa, as well as the central province of Zambezia.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Malawi, authorities reported three fatalities and stated that approximately 20,000 people have been left homeless in the southern region, where the cyclone triggered severe flooding.

Chiphiliro Khamula, a spokesperson for Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), told Anadolu that the displaced individuals are currently being housed in evacuation centers.

The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique early Sunday before moving into southern Malawi, where it caused intense flooding between Monday and Wednesday.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that relief efforts are being severely hindered due to damaged infrastructure, as washed-out roads and bridges have made many areas inaccessible.

This disaster comes just months after Cyclone Chido struck both countries in December last year, resulting in 73 fatalities in Mozambique and 13 in Malawi.