Floods in Beira: What would have happened without the new Chiveve Canal?

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Floods in Beira: What would have happened without the new Chiveve Canal?

6:07 CAT | 01 Mar 2017

Noticias

The recently inaugurated Chiveve Canal has contributed to minimize the effects of severe flooding in Beira city, Sofala province, where it has been raining heavily since last weekend.

According to the National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), cumulative precipitation of 223.9 mm of rain was recorded between 5:00pm Sunday and 5:00 am yesterday morning, a high figure for a region where the monthly average is 296.2 mm.

Residents say the situation would be worse if the Chiveve Canal, opened last month by Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, was not functional. Homes were nevertheless flooded in the Manga, Munhava, Muchatazina, Chota and Vaz neighboruhoods, where some tertiary ditches proved inadequate.

INAM spokesman in Sofala, Achado Jamal Paiva, called for precautionary measures in view of continuing rainfall over the coming days. For example, in many parts of the city huge potholes have filled with water, representing a considerable danger to both people and vehicles.

The director of Health, Women and Social Services of the district of Beira, Graciana de Jesus Pita, said that precautionary measures would have to be extended because of the likelihood of water being contaminated by sewage.

“Individual and collective hygiene must be strengthened and intensified. If there sewage in the open, we all run the risk of contracting disease. We must wash food well and use toilets properly,” she warned.

According to INAM, more than 50 millimeters of rain is expected in the next 24 hours, with severe thunderstorms and winds gusting up to 60 kph.

Achado Jamal Paiva said that Machanga, Chibabava, Búzi, Nhamatanda, Dondo, Muanza, Gorongosa, Cheringoma and city of Beira were most at risk. The recent weather, he explained, was caused by atmospheric instability resulting from the interaction between air masses with different characteristics.

Source: Notícias