Rivers overflow, restrict travel and flood crops in southern Mozambique

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Rivers overflow, restrict travel and flood crops in southern Mozambique

3:13 CAT | 22 Jan 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Notícias]

The main rivers in the southern part of Mozambique are overflowing, restricting the movement of people and goods and flooding agricultural fields – a situation that could lead to food shortages in the near future.

For example, at least four localities in the district of Magude, Maputo province, are isolated from the main town. In Chibuto, Gaza province, several hectares of crops are flooded, which could result in a poor harvest.

In view of the prevailing situation, the Regional Administration of Waters of the South (ARA-Sul) is urging the population to exercise caution when approaching the Maputo, Incomáti and Limpopo rivers, as they risk being swept away by floodwaters.

Data from the institution indicate that between Monday and yesterday there was light and scattered rainfall in the hydro-climatological observation network of the southern region of the country.

Subsequently, the following rivers recorded fluctuating hydrometric levels, remaining above the alert level, but without significant impact so far: the Limpopo river in Sicacate, Combomune, Pafuri and Chókwè; the Incomáti river and the Maputo rives in Madubula.

Levels in the Save basin, in Massangena, Gaza province, increased, but remain below the alert level. The remaining watercourses report a downward trend.

Meanwhile, fluctuating hydrometric levels are expected over the next 48 hours, with a tendency to decrease in the Maputo basins in Madubula, and Incomát basin in Magude, which may fall below alert level.

Levels are expected to continue rising in the Limpopo basin in Sicacate and Combomune, remaining above the alert level.

Contrary to the situation in the South Zone, the hydrographic basins of the northern and central regions remain stable, due to the low rainfall, combined with low levels of runoff from the upstream countries.

Source: Notícias