Zim warns of more floods
15/01/2008 11:57  - (SA)  

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Floods: 1 000s evacuated 10 stranded on Zim island UN: 50 dead in Moz floods Moz warns flood victims Zim army helps flood victims Zambia fears worsening floods

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Harare - The authorities in Zimbabwe warned of the threat of more floods on Tuesday in the north and east of the country after record heavy rains.

More than 30 people were known to have perished since the start of heavy rains in December.

Rivers flooded in Masvingo province and remote Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central province, displacing hundreds of families. Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit (CPU) warned that the Cahora Bassa dam over the border in Mozambique was spilling, leading to flooding downstream.

This meant a strong possibility of more flooding on tributaries of the Zambezi River. The authorities had already advised villagers in Muzarabani to move to higher ground.

Thousands trapped on Zambezi

A joint statement from the CPU, the Meteorological Services Department and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) said: "There is likely to be more flooding in the low-lying areas of Muzarabani.

"We would like to warn the public of the possibility of more floods in the area and want to advise them to stay on higher ground.

"At the moment, the spillage and releases from Cahora Bassa amount to about 6 600 cubic metres per second and the situation is likely to continue for the next few weeks."

Flooding in Mozambique had left thousands trapped on the Zambezi, reports said. Many had been forced to retreat to higher ground near to their flooded villages.

Meanwhile, the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) had now refuted claims that eight villagers were missing and feared dead after being stranded on an island on the Mutirikwi River for more than five days.

Reports on state television late on Monday said the force had been able to rescue two villagers, and that eight were now missing and feared dead.

The report carried interviews with tearful villagers.

But the official Herald daily quoted an AFZ spokesperson Simon Matingwina as saying that two villagers had been rescued and a search operation had yielded no further results.

"He refuted claims that 10 people had been marooned," the newspaper said.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA

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