By Own Correspondent- A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chimanimani and Chipinge shortly before Cyclone Idai which left over 344 people dead and destroyed property worth billions of dollars, a senior Government official has revealed.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists at a post cabinet briefing that government was also working on relocating people in some of the areas affected by the cyclone.

Said Mutsvangwa:

“Cabinet has also established that the scale of the disaster was to some extent exacerbated by a 3.8 magnitude earthquake which hit the Chimanimani areas shortly before the onset of the cyclone,” she said.

“A team of experts is currently on the ground in the Chimanimani and Chipinge areas carrying out a disaster vulnerability assessment exercise with a view to determining the suitable long term settlement and land use patterns.

“Plans are also underway to establish monuments in honour of the departed persons in places such as Ngangu, Machongwe and Copa.”-StateMedia.