A bridal car leads a wedding procession along the seafront in gale force winds in Maputo.—AP Photo

MAPUTO: Mozambican emergency officials say heavy rains and high winds killed eight people in the southern African nation over the weekend.

Manuel Machaieie of the Disasters Management Institute told Radio Mozambique Monday three people were killed Sunday when a tree fell on their homes in southern Mozambique's Xai Xai district. Mozambican state media say scores of homes and schools were destroyed.

State radio says five fishermen were killed off the central port city of Beira Saturday. Authorities on Monday were still cautioning fishermen not to venture out.

Local media report the severe weather caused by Irina, a cyclone later downgraded to tropical storm, killed four people in neighboring South Africa.

Last month, two cyclones destroyed homes, crops and water and sanitation facilities across Mozambique.