The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) will help identify people who died after Cyclone Idai hit some parts of the country.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, July Moyo told Senators on Tuesday that Nust will assist in identifying the victims via DNA. He said 179 people were confirmed dead but the figure was rising as more bodies were being discovered. Moyo said the number of those who are missing has so far been put at 329. Said Moyo:
We are working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and National University of Science and Technology which helped us last time when we had a bus disaster in West Nicholson and passengers were burnt beyond recognition. We believe we will be able to identify these bodies that will be exhumed from under the rubble or the stones.At an area called Kopa for example, where there used to be a police station, agricultural extension officers and a school, one can only find stones and mud and we do not know how deep the people are buried.
He said some Zimbabwean rescue and search teams had found some bodies in Mozambique but villagers were failing to identify any of them.
More: Herald