Heavy rains hit Southern Africa

2006-01-03 20:27

Benita van Eyssen

Johannesburg - Heavy rains in parts of southern Africa have left more than 1 000 people homeless, causing structural damage, and played a part in spreading cholera - leaving many infected and several dead as of Tuesday.

In Zambia more than 1 000 cases of cholera had been reported since August with at least six deaths amid an escalation in the number of infections in recent days.

Sprawling urban areas, like Lusaka - where about 210 new cases a week were being recorded - were listed as the worst hit, with poor water and sanitation blamed for the outbreak.

The rains also damaged the country's main hydroelectric power station at Kafue Gorge in late December, causing a power outage for several hours in most parts of the country and triggering fears of a total black-out.

Several rivers burst their banks

The country was forced to import power from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In Malawi as many as 1 000 people had been reported displaced in the wake of flooding in recent days after several rivers around the country burst their banks.

The Ruo River along the country's border with Mozambique flooded at least six nearby villages, sending inhabitants fleeing to higher ground.

According to the Blantyre-based The Daily Times newspaper, Malawi's floods also swept away livestock and crops.

In neighbouring Mozambique, hundreds lost their homes in heaving thunderstorms, while several people were reported injured as a result of harsh weather conditions on New Year's Eve.

Worst affected districts

Rains and strong winds caused severe structural damage and also fuelled fear of a cholera outbreak in the worst affected districts - including the central Sofala Province and Beira along the coast.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday reported seven deaths from cholera and 114 recorded new cases amid a sharp rise in infections over the last two days in its central Chikomba and Chivhu districts.

Zimbabwe health minister David Parirenyatwa warned people to avoid travelling to or from the affected areas and to practise high levels of hygiene.

Health officials said in south of the border in South Africa's Limpopo province the number of cases of Malaria had risen to 58 - 22 of which were regarded as critical.

Heavy thundershowers

Phuti Seloba of the health department said high rainfall throughout December and an increase in the number of people in the province had contributed to the number of cases.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities said heavy thundershowers causing poor visibility had brought about a general increase in accidents on South Africa's roads, where more than 1 000 people had died since December 1.

Traffic officials warned motorists returning from their summer holidays to drive with care in wet conditions as the country's weather bureau predicted further downpours for the remainder of the week.

The heavy rains and flooding came as most of southern Africa battled chronic food shortages caused by severe drought in recent years.

- SAPA