Government announces red alert

Maputo, 17 Jan (AIM) – The Mozambican government on Friday announced a Red Alert throughout the country, because of the catastrophic flooding resulting from torrential rains and thunderstorms that have hit much of the country, particularly the southern provinces.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) called to discuss how to respond to the floods, the government spokesperson and Minister of State Administration, Inocencio Impissa, told reporters that activating a red alert “seeks to ensure centralised coordination in the immediate response to the disasters, to strengthen the mobilisation of resources, and to adopt flexible management mechanisms for the rapid implementation of measures in line with the tasks of the moment”.

He announced that teams, each headed by a minister, are being dispatched to provide assistance to those affected by the floods. He added that, in some situations, airlifts will be needed to carry people out of harm’s way.

The situation is of particular concern in Gaza province, where roads have been cut and communities have been isolated. In one case, “at least 80 people have been besieged by the waters since Thursday afternoon, and are in need of urgent support”.

Impissa announced that people are being evacuated immediately, and, if necessary, coercively, from the basin of the Umbeluzi river, where discharges from the Pequenos Libombos dam were due to begin at 15.00 on Friday.

The reservoir behind the dam is completely full and, unless water is discharged, the dam’s physical integrity could be at risk.

Data announced at the Council of Ministers meeting show that 103 people have died so far in the 2025/2026 rainy season, and more than 673,000 people have been affected.

Impissa said that 1,160 houses have been destroyed and a further 4,000 have been damaged.

In a short address to the nation, President Daniel Chapo said the government is making every effort to guarantee assistance to those affected by the floods.

“We are doing everything to rescue people who are surrounded by water”, he declared. In cases where these groups cannot be evacuated, food aid will be taken to them.
(AIM)
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