Further Flooding In Maputo Province Forecast
Maputo, 6 Jan (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Water Resource Management Directorate has warned of possible further flooding in Maputo province, which could make some of the roads in the province impassable.
The flooding is due to the increased flow of some of the major rivers in neighbouring South Africa and Eswatini. The areas at risk are the Maputo, Umbeluzi and Incomati river basins. According to Agostinho Vilanculos, of the National Directorate, the worst flooding is likely to be in the districts of Matutuine, Manhica and Boane.
Cited by Radio Mozambique, he forecast that that over 200 households in the province would be affected, and over 3,000 hectares of crops would be inundated.
The level of the Umbeluzi River is rising because the Pequenos Libombos dam has increased its discharges to 15 cubic metres a second – a 50 per cent increase on the level at the end of 2022.
Since it is continuing to rain in southern Mozambique and in the neighbouring countries, the level of the rivers is likely to continue rising in the coming days.
Vilanculos warned that road traffic to the Maragra and Calanga administrative posts could become impossible. “Moderate flooding” could affect people living in the 3rd February administrative post in Manhica district, an area that is regularly flooded whenever the Incomati River bursts its banks.
Communities living in low-lying areas of Magude and Xinavane, also in the Incomati Valley, could also be at risk.
Vilanculos urged motorists to take particular care when driving to any of these areas, while people living near the river banks “should avoid crossing the rivers without appropriate means”.
(AIM)
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