Flooding and Torrential Rains Kill More Than 100 Across Southern Africa

Torrential rains and widespread flooding have killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, with authorities warning that more severe conditions are expected in the coming days, regional disaster agencies and relief organisations said.

In South Africa, at least 19 people have died after heavy rains triggered flooding in northern provinces, leading to evacuations and disruption of transport routes. Rescue efforts included helicopter evacuations in parts of Kruger National Park, which was closed to visitors due to washed-out roads and bridges.

In Mozambique, the Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction reported more than 100 deaths during an unusually severe rainy season that has damaged thousands of homes and displaced tens of thousands of people. Fatalities there resulted from lightning strikes, drowning in floodwaters, infrastructure collapses and outbreaks of water-related diseases.

Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency said heavy rains have killed around 70 people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes since the start of the year, while bridges, schools and roads have collapsed in flood-affected areas. The flooding has also affected Madagascar, Malawi and Zambia, with authorities confirming additional deaths and widespread damage in these countries.

The World Food Programme reported that more than 200,000 people in Mozambique have been affected by flooding, with tens of thousands facing evacuation. Crops, including rice and corn, have been waterlogged, raising concerns about food insecurity for thousands of small-scale farmers.

Forecasts from the United States’ Famine Early Warning Systems Network and regional meteorological services indicate that heavy rains and flooding could continue across the region, partly fuelled by climate patterns that bring intense rainfall to parts of southeastern Africa.

SOURCE: TRT Afrika