Thousands flee Moz floods
2007-02-12 08:27
Maputo - More than 58 000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas bordering Mozambique's flooding Zambezi river in the past week, the state national disaster management institute (INGC) said on Sunday.
Floods in the central provinces of Tete, Zambezia, Manica and Sofala have claimed 29 lives since December, destroyed thousands of homes, and some 165 000 people living along the river basin are in immediate danger, spokesperson Belarmino Chivambo told AFP.
"If the floods continue, this figure can increase to 285 000 in the coming days," he said.
Those evacuated were taken to 18 accommodation centres where they were given maize, water, mosquito repellent and water purification equipment, he said.
Twenty boats and two helicopters were involved in 24-hour evacuation and monitoring exercises.
The rescue operation made necessary by floods caused by incessant downpours since December was expected to cost the country up to $24m, Chivambo said.
Floods in Mozambique in 2000-2001 claimed more than 700 lives.
The southern African country's peak rainfall season is from the end of February to early March.
Last week, the national water directorate said the Zambezi's water levels were dangerously high, prompting the giant Cahora Bassa dam to increase outflow to prevent it bursting.
The dam, built during Portuguese colonial rule, is one of Africa's largest hydroelectric projects.
The UN world food programme on Friday made an impassioned plea for aid, saying floods across southern Africa were causing havoc for tens of thousands of people.