MAPUTO, Jan 25, 2012 (From AFP) - At least 25 people have been killed as a result of two tropical cyclones that hit central and southern Mozambique over the past two weeks, government officials said on Wednesday. "Twenty five people died in the last two weeks as a result of the Cyclones 'Dando' and 'Funso, the highest number of deaths was reported in Zambezia with a total of 16 victims, followed by Gaza with nine," director of Technical Council for Disaster Management Dulce Chilungo told AFP. Another three people have been reported missing after they were swept away by flood waters at Limpompo river in Gaza province. Tropical storm Dando hit the southern African country from Sunday to Tuesday with gusts of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour and rainfall of over 200 millimetres (nearly eight inches). According to the National Institute of Meteorology Funso is moving southwards the Mozambique Channel, with winds exceeding 195 kilometres per hour, and is likely to bring heavy rains within the next 24 hours. Twelve years ago 700 people died and half a million were displaced in the worst floods in the impoverished country's history.

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