By Own Correspondent- Cyclone Idai’s devastation on Manicaland was much greater than people had expected and the army has revealed that the death toll is expected to rise amid indications that at least 500 people are missing from the Rusitu Valley in Chimanimani district.

Tropical Cyclone Idai may very well turn out to be the worst weather phenomenon that the country has experienced as the death toll is currently at 98 while hundreds of homesteads have been destroyed.

3 Infantry Brigade commander Major General Joe Muzvidziwa, who is leading the army rescue mission revealed that they do not have an accurate number yet but said that he expects the figure to be well above 500.

Said General Muzvidziwa:

“We still need more nurses because those at Ngangu Clinic in Chimanimani Township are overwhelmed. At least doctors have arrived and they are already working.

We are still getting reports of areas that need assistance and we have made several flights into some of the affected areas . We do not have sufficient data on the numbers of people who died and those that are missing. In fact, when the data collation is done, we are expecting the number of missing people not to be less than 500.

The good thing is that the water levels have receded and if we manage to clear the roads we could have a clear picture by end of day tomorrow.”

Addressing the media after a post cabinet meeting Tuesday, Local government minister July Moyo said government had received reports of suspected Zimbabwean floating bodies in neighbouring Mozambique.

“We have been told by people in the Kopa area that there are bodies that are seen to be floating in Mozambique… they are suspected to be Zimbabweans….

At first we were told that they numbered 100 but now we got information that they could be 300. We are not so sure of the exact figures.

We have soldiers who are currently on the rescue mission and once they have physically counted how many of those bodies are Zimbabwean, we will then be able to update the nation.”