The known death toll from the floods in central and northern Mozambique has risen to 117, according to the latest report from the Ministry of State Administration and the Public Service, which supervises the country's disaster management bodies.
The report, submitted to the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) on Tuesday, says that the vast majority of the deaths (93) occurred in Zambezia province.
There were also 13 confirmed deaths in Niassa, eight in Cabo Delgado and three in Nampula. It does not mention the six deaths in Manica province reported by the local branch of the relief agency, the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), on 20 January.
Some of the victims were swept to their deaths by the flood waters or by mudslides, others were killed when their houses collapsed on top of them, and still others were struck by lightning. The report does not state how many deaths were caused by each of these factors.
The United Nations said last week that the rains in early January had triggered floods affecting nearly one million people in Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. About a quarter of a million people have been forced to leave their homes.
“The floods have killed 117 people, an increase from the last balance of at least 84 dead a week ago,” said Mozambique deputy health minister Mouzinho Saide.
A majority of the deaths occurred in the central coastal region of Zambezia, he said. “The deaths were caused by drowning, lightning and collapsed houses.”
Malawi President Peter Mutharika said on Tuesday that his country, one of the poorest in the world, would probably miss its economic growth forecast this year of 5.8% owing to the rains, which had killed more than 60 people.
A lack of funds has hampered the region’s ability to tackle the effects of the disaster, according to aid groups.
Victims of the Licungo flood are also facing serious water shortages. The flood severely damaged the pumping station which provides water for all of Mocuba town.
Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario, who visited Mocuba on 22-24 January, ordered a survey of the costs involved in repairing the pumping station so as to resume the supply of clean water to Mocuba as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, tanker trucks are carrying drinking water to the accommodation centres.
The storms and floods have destroyed 8,814 houses and damaged a further 10,561. 403 schools and seven health units also suffered damage.
Work is under way to repair the five cuts in Zambezia along the main north-south highway. The most serious is on the south bank of the Licungo river in Mocuba town, where the raging flood waters swept away part of the bridge over the Licungo on 12 January. The Portuguese construction company Mota Engil is building a new embankment for the south end of the bridge, and hopes to finish this work by Friday.
Wednesday 28 January 2015
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