In brief
Southern Mozambique is grappling with its worst flooding in generations, leading to widespread rescues and the displacement of thousands. As communities cling to safety amid rising waters, aid efforts intensify with the participation of teams from Brazil, South Africa, and the UK. Local residents recount heart-wrenching stories of loss, while officials warn of the potential for worsening conditions due to forthcoming heavy rains.
Tens of thousands of people in Mozambique are being rescued as rising waters continue to devastate the southern African nation - the worst flooding in a generation.
Teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been helping with life-saving rescue operations.
For me, this is the first time I have experienced a calamity of this magnitude. Elders say a similar disaster took place in the 1990s, said 24-year-old mechanic Tomaz Antonio Mlau.
Mlau and his family, from Marracuene, awoke to find their home under water following the Inkomati River's overflow. When a rescue boat came a few hours afterwards, we did not hesitate to board it and come to safety, he recalled.
The floods have impacted more than 650,000 people, leading to extensive destruction of homes, infrastructure, and farmland. In many areas, residents remain hesitant to evacuate, with some attempting to cling to treetops and rooftops for safety.
More than a dozen deaths have been reported, with officials expecting numbers to rise as rescue teams continue to reach isolated communities. The government announced the closure of key transportation routes, causing further supply shortages.
Conditions in temporary shelters are dire, with reports of insufficient food and makeshift accommodations.
This ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and disaster management as Mozambique faces the looming threat of more torrential rains in the coming days.
