Torrential rains in Beira and Dondo

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Torrential rains in Beira and Dondo

1:12 CAT | 28 Dec 2017

In file CoM

Torrential rains on Monday and Tuesday flooded parts of the central Mozambican cities of Beira and Dondo and knocked out electricity supplies.

A transformer was struck by lightning and overhead cables were blown down on the line that supplies the outer Beira neighbourhood of Nhangau, plunging thousands of people into darkness. Likewise the power to some parts of Dondo was cut on Monday night.

Although power to the affected areas of both cities was restored on Tuesday afternoon, fluctuations in power supplies continued, resulting in damage to electrical goods, reports Wednesday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”.

In Beira the neighbourhoods of Munhava, Vaz, Chota, Nfunda, Mangassa, Chipangara, Esturro and Muchatazina were swamped, forcing families to abandon their homes and take refuge in temporary shelters set up in schools and shelter.

The Sofala delegate of the Mozambican relief agency, the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), Paulo Tomas, assured “Noticias” that the INGC is already prepared to intervene in rescue operations, and to provide accommodation and other assistance to the victims of the Beira storms, under the rainy season contingency plan approved by the government.

Tomas urged people living in flood prone areas of Sofala not to try to cross rivers, partly because the strong currents might sweep them away, and partly because of the risks of attacks by crocodiles.

The rains have led to sharp rises in the levels of the major rivers in Sofala, the Pungue and the Buzi, which could cause flooding in the river valleys.

Heavy rains on Sunday in the northern city of Nampula caused severe damage to the road network. According to a report on the independent television station STV, the rains caused an enormous crater to open, making the road to the neighbourhoods of Napipine, Carrupeia and Namicopo impassable.

Four electrical transformers were damaged in the storm, leading to power cuts. Armando Machai, the Nampula director of the electricity company, EDM, put the losses to EDM at 1.3 million meticais (about 22,000 US dollars).

The National Meteorology Institute (INAM) has warned of continuing thunderstorms, high winds and heavy rains over the coming days throughout northern and central Mozambique.

Source: AIM