·

6 dead, 3 missing as new wave of floods hits northern Mozambique

6-dead-3-missing-as-new-wave-of-floods-hits-northern-mozambique

Heavy rainfall continues battering Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province since December 2019, causing deadly floods. As of January 15, the death toll stands at six while three others remain missing. The severe downpour has also affected Tete province and triggered the overflowing of the Licungo river, which inundated parts of Zambezia province.

Five fatalities in Cabo Delgado were initially reported on December 29, 2019. On January 15, local media said one more person died after a vehicle carrying eight passengers was swept off a bridge over Messalo river, in the district of Montepuez. Four of them were rescued, while three others were still missing. Search operations are ongoing for the missing persons.

Flooding also inflicted damages on power lines and pylons, leaving residents without electricity in the districts of Mueda, Muidumbe, Nangade, Mocimboa da Praia, and Palma. Repairs are expected to be done early next week.

Thousands of houses were affected, and around 8 600 people evacuated.

On January 3, reports said a major bridge over the Montepuez River in Ancuabe district, blocking road connections and stranding many residents from the northern districts.

mozambique-flooding-jan-2020-1

Image credit: @ConstaCossa/Twitter

mozambique-flooding-jan-2020-2

Image credit: @ConstaCossa/Twitter

mozambique-flooding-jan-2020-6

Image credit: @chamkoka/Twitter

mozambique-flooding-jan-2020-4

Image credit: @chamkoka/Twitter

mozambique-flooding-jan-2020-3

Image credit: @chamkoka/Twitter

In Zambezia province, hundreds of families were displaced due to the swelling of the Licungo river. According to the country's National Institute for Disaster Management on January 4, flooding displaced around 100 households in Maganja da Costa district and 200 in Mocuba district.

More than 93 mm (3.7 inches) of rain fell in Quelimane city in a 24-hour period to January 16.

In Tete province, over 90 mm (3.5 inches) of rain was recorded in Ulongue town on January 13. No flooding has been reported yet in the province, but over the border in Malawi, inundations affected areas around Zomba from around January 14.

Moderate to heavy rain is forecast over central-northern Mozambique on January 18. Meanwhile, the rainy season in Mozambique is expected to end by March.

Featured image credit: @chamkoka/Twitter

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *