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Severe Flooding Results in Over 100 Fatalities Across Southern Africa

share-iconPublished: Saturday, January 17 share-iconUpdated: Saturday, January 17 comment-icon18 hours ago
Severe Flooding Results in Over 100 Fatalities Across Southern Africa

Credited from: ALJAZEERA

  • More than 100 fatalities reported in Southern Africa due to floods.
  • Mozambique is the hardest-hit nation, with at least 103 deaths.
  • Severe weather warnings indicate more flooding is expected in the coming days.
  • Hundreds of thousands have been displaced across the affected regions.
  • Major infrastructure damage and food insecurity are escalating concerns.

Torrential rains and subsequent flooding across Southern Africa have led to the deaths of over 100 people, with Mozambique facing the highest toll at 103 fatalities. These deaths have been attributed to various causes such as drowning, collapses, and cholera outbreaks triggered by contaminated water sources. Neighboring South Africa and Zimbabwe are also experiencing severe impacts, with reports indicating at least 30 deaths in South Africa alone and 70 in Zimbabwe as flooding wreaks havoc on communities, according to Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and Africanews.

Across Mozambique, approximately 200,000 people have been affected by the flooding, with tens of thousands facing evacuation. The situation has compounded existing food shortages, as the World Food Programme reported that over 70,000 hectares of agricultural land have been submerged, severely impacting small-scale farmers. "This unusually severe rainy season has greatly affected our agricultural landscape," said a local official, highlighting the dire effects on food security, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Rescue efforts are ongoing in South Africa, where army helicopters have been deployed to assist residents trapped by the rapidly rising waters in northern provinces. President Cyril Ramaphosa reported that areas like Limpopo and Mpumalanga have received up to 400mm of rain within a week, leading to infrastructure collapse and widespread evacuations. Reports indicate that hundreds of tourists have also been evacuated from Kruger National Park due to inaccessible conditions, according to Africanews, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

The La Niña weather pattern is suspected to be a contributing factor to this intense rainfall, influencing flooding events expected or already occurring across at least seven southern African nations. This ongoing environmental crisis highlights the region's vulnerability amid worsening climate conditions and fragile infrastructure, according to Africanews, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

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