Own Correspondent|ZIMBABWE National Army’s Major General Joe Muzvidziwa of the 3 Infantry Brigade who is the commander leading rescue efforts in Manicaland has said that the death toll for Zimbabwe may reach 500. He said most of the damage occurred in the Rusitu Valley.

He said: “We don’t 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 Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Pope Francis is praying for victims of the cyclone-induced flooding in southern Africa and is urging support for those affected.

Francis issued an appeal at the end of his weekly general audience Wednesday for those affected by the flooding in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi that have killed more than 350 people.

Francis said: “I express my pain and closeness to those dear people. I entrust the many victims and their families to the mercy of God and urge comfort and support for those who have been struck by this calamity.”

Aid workers are rushing to rescue victims from treetops after the cyclone unleashed the devastating floods.