3.11.2008 4:26 PM

Tropical Cyclone Jokwe Kills 8

Mozambique Slammed By Category 3 Hurricane

Tropical Cyclone Jokwe grew to Category 3 hurricane strength before striking Mozambique.

Photo: NASA Earth Observatory

By Dan Shapley

Tropical Cyclone Jokwe grew intense unexpectedly into a Category 3 hurricane in the hours before it struck Mozambique, and it continued to lash Mozambique for a third day Monday.

At least eight people are dead, and thousands have fled their homes, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Agency. Nearly 20,000 homes have been destroyed, electricity cut off and trees uprooted only weeks after that country's most severe flooding in recent memory.

It's the latest Indian Ocean hurricane of the season. Neighboring Madagascar has also been pummeled repeatedly. The last hurricane in the region, Tropical Cyclone Ivan, killed more than 80 people on Madagascar.

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