Mozambican authorities have put the country on the highest level of alert, as it waits for an approaching cyclone.
The cyclone, named Favio, is predicted to arrive on Wednesday with winds of up to 175km/h (109m/h).
Central and southern parts of the country are expected to be worst hit, particularly Sofala, Inhambane and Gaza provinces.
The country is already struggling to recover from recent heavy floods that forced 120,000 people from their homes.
Inhabitants of central and southern parts of the country have been warned and told that the army and Red Cross are on standby.
"We are warning people not to climb the trees and they must keep their doors and windows well closed," said Belarmino Chivambo, spokesperson for the Mozambique National Office for Natural Disasters Management.
The Red Cross is mobilising volunteers to move people to communal buildings.
Six years ago more than 700 people lost their lives to floods.
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