Flooding worsens in Mozambique. by Nina Ridge
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to emergency camps after Mozambique and neighbouring Zambia were hit by floods. Heavy rains caused the River Zambezi to burst its banks.
Dozens of people have been killed by the floods and over 80,000 people have been made homeless.
Homes are submerged, crops have been wiped out, and entire villages lie in ruins.
Supplies are being airlifted in as roads are impassable.
The river Zambezi, which originates in Zambia and courses through Mozambique before flowing into the Indian Ocean, has been flowing at dangerously high levels following flash floods sparked by torrential rains.
Vilanculos airport had 141 mm of rain (5.5 inches) in the 24 hours up to 0600 GMT on Monday 19th February. This exceeds the average rainfall for the whole of February.
Tropical storm (Favio) near southern Madagascar is moving towards Mozambique and intensifying - expected to reach typhoon status in the week ahead. This can only worsen the situation with further torrential downpours likely.
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Mozambique’s peak rainfall season is from the end of February to early March and USAID reports that the flooding could continue until the end of March.
This is thought to be the worst flooding for six years, since the deluges of 2000-2001.
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