The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
reported
that
the
group
had
travelled
to
the
island
to
tend
to
their
fields.
While
there,
they
constructed
a
makeshift
shelter
to
use
while
weeding
their
crops.
However,
when
the
river
flooded,
they
became
trapped
on
the
island.
Police
said:
The
ZRP
Sub-Aqua
team
rescued
10
people
who
were
marooned
on
an
island
in
Save
River,
Birchenough,
Chipinge,
on
20/02/25.The
victims,
who
are
members
of
three
families,
had
travelled
to
the
island
to
tend
to
their
fields.They
had
built
a
makeshift
shelter
while
weeding
their
crops.
However,
they
became
trapped
when
the
river
flooded.
Meanwhile,
49
people
have
lost
their
lives
in
extreme
weather
incidents
recorded
since
the
start
of
the
rainy
season.
Nathan
Nkomo,
the
chief
director
of
the
Department
of
Civil
Protection,
said
the
heavy
rains
have
caused
widespread
damage
to
both
private
property
and
public
infrastructure,
including
roads,
bridges,
shops,
and
a
church,
with
the
total
value
of
the
destruction
exceeding
US$330,000.