FLOODING THREATENS BOANE DISTRICT
Maputo, 11 Jan (AIM) – The reservoir behind the Pequenos Libombos dam, on the Umbeluzi river, in Maputo province, is now almost completely full, threatening serious flooding in Boane district, about 30 kilometres west of the capital.
According to a report on the independent television channel, STV, water is continuing to pour down the Umbeluzi from South Africa and Eswatini, forcing the dam to increase its discharges to over 50 cubic metres a second.
The Mazambanine bridge in Boane municipality is under water, and mobility is now limited in 25 Boane neighbourhoods. Some people are continuing to drive motorcycles over the bridge, despite the risk.
The National Disaster Risk Management Institute (INGD) sent two motor boats to Boane to help people cross the swollen river, but on Tuesday both of them ran out of fuel.
One INGD official, Amir Ibrahimo, dismissed the fuel shortage as just “an operational question”, a logistical issue “which we have now overcome”.
Further south, about 400 households in the Catuane administrative post have been isolated from the rest of the country by flooding on the Maputo river. About 190 hectares of crops have been lost in Catuane.
In Chokwe district, in Gaza province, torrential rains are threatening floods which could affect more than 190,000 people. The rains, plus the water pouring into the Limpopo river from South Africa, have forced the Massingir dam further upstream to increase its discharges.
According to the Mayor of Chokwe, Jose Moiane, cited by Mozambican Television (TVM), about 1,000 hectares of crops in the municipality are at risk. The Chokwe authorities have re-activated the Community Disaster Risk Management Committees and are warning residents of the dangers posed by the rising waters of the Limpopo.
(AIM)
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