HARARE, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of deaths related to Cyclone Idai has risen to 268 in Zimbabwe, the southern African country's information minister said Tuesday.
"It is noted with sadness that the figure of human fatalities has now risen to 268 and is still expected to rise as the search efforts continue," Monica Mutsvangwa said in a media briefing.
July Moyo, minister of local government, public works and national housing, who is leading the search efforts, said the death toll includes the bodies that were reportedly floating in neighboring Mozambique and buried there. He said the government will continue with search and rescue.
Mutsvangwa said that the government is worried about the shortage of aircraft to ferry relief food and other materials to areas which are still inaccessible by road, even though access to the affected areas is steadily improving as more roads are being reopened.
