Mozambique: Localised flooding south of Maputo as heavy rains continue

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Mozambique: Localised flooding south of Maputo as heavy rains continue

12:01 CAT | 19 Apr 2022

Illustrative photo: O País

Water levels in the Maputo river basin, 50 kilometres south of the Mozambican capital, are above the alert level and causing localised flooding, the country’s hydrographic authorities have warned, following continuous rainfall in the region since Friday.

On Monday, the Southern Regional Water Administration (ARA-SUL) recorded a level of 4.06 metres, or about half a metre above the alert level, in Madubula, with the main access road to that village cut off.

At the other end of the province, in the Incomati river basin, 80 kilometres north of Maputo, the entity said that increased runoff was expected and “the alert level may be reached at the Magude hydrometric station.” It added that “localised flooding is expected in agricultural fields in the lower reaches of the Incomati river” and traffic was likely to be hampered on unpaved roads between some villages.

The Maputo and Incomati rivers, along with the Umbeluzi, are those with the highest flows in Maputo province and the ones related to which the hydrographic authorities are once again appealing to the population to take precautions.

The rainy season is nearing its end – it runs from October to April – and the rain is expected to ease off from Wednesday.

Since the beginning of the current season, at least 134 people have died and more than 760,000 have been affected by natural disasters in Mozambique, with the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ana in January and Cyclone Gombe in March.

Source: Lusa