70 dead as rains wreak havoc

HEAVY rains pounding the country during the 2025-26 season have claimed 70 lives, injured 51 people and destroyed more than 1 000 homesteads, the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) said yesterday.

According to the department, Manicaland province has been the worst affected, accounting for 510 households, followed by Mashonaland East (192), Mashonaland Central (130) and Mashonaland West (127). Manicaland recorded the highest death toll, with 41 fatalities and 31 injuries, while Mashonaland West reported 19 deaths.

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