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 assisting with life-saving operations. Local resident Tomaz Antonio Mlau, a 24-year-old mechanic, described the calamity as unprecedented, recalling that similar disasters have occurred only in the 1990s.
In Marracuene, about 30 kilometers north of Maputo, families are stranded as the Inkomati River has burst its banks. Mlau and his family were forced to flee their inundated home, leaving behind all their possessions except for a change of clothes. Now, they reside in one of six shelters accommodating approximately 4,000 displaced individuals.
Farmers and residents from low-lying areas are among those hardest hit, with Francisco Fernando Chivindzi lamenting the destruction of his livestock and crops. Many have lost everything, echoing a sentiment shared by local officials, including Mayor Shafee Sidat, who highlighted the challenge of those still reluctant to leave dangerous areas.
The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction corroborates reports indicating over 642,122 people affected by flooding, with at least 12 confirmed deaths. As heavy rains persist and fears mount over additional discharges from a dam in South Africa, the situation remains critical.
With main roads flooded and food shortages growing, local residents are advocating for urgent support. Shelters are struggling with supply, leaving families to rely on minimal resources while the future remains uncertain. As recovery efforts continue and conditions worsen, the resilience of communities in Mozambique is being tested like never before.
