Post by : Meena Ariff

Relentless rainfall and widespread flooding across southern Africa have claimed more than 100 lives, forcing large-scale rescue and evacuation operations in several countries. Authorities confirmed that the disaster has unfolded after weeks of unusually heavy rain, with weather services warning that more downpours could worsen the situation in the coming days.

Army helicopters have been deployed to rescue people stranded on rooftops and in trees as floodwaters swept through towns and rural areas. Hundreds of tourists and workers were also evacuated from one of the world’s largest game reserves after rivers burst their banks and cut off access routes.

Mozambique has emerged as the worst-affected country. Officials said over 100 deaths have been recorded since the rainy season intensified late last year. The fatalities were linked to flooding, collapsing structures, lightning strikes, and disease outbreaks linked to contaminated water. More than 200,000 people have been impacted nationwide, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed and tens of thousands facing evacuation. Vast stretches of farmland have been submerged, threatening food supplies for small-scale farmers who depend on crops such as rice and maize.

In South Africa, floods in northern regions have pushed the death toll to at least 30, with emergency teams still searching affected areas. Some districts received nearly 400 millimeters of rain in less than a week, washing away entire neighborhoods. Officials said hundreds of homes were either severely damaged or completely destroyed, leaving families displaced and in urgent need of shelter.

Damage has also been reported in Mpumalanga province, where roads and bridges collapsed, cutting off communities. Authorities issued the highest-level weather warning for parts of the region, urging residents to prepare for further flooding. Many locals said the recent rains were the worst they had ever witnessed and fear that more storms could bring additional destruction.

Zimbabwe has also been hit hard, with disaster officials reporting around 70 deaths since the start of the year. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed, and key infrastructure such as schools, roads, and bridges has collapsed under the pressure of floodwaters. Flooding has extended beyond these countries, affecting parts of Madagascar, Malawi, and Zambia as well.

In South Africa’s famous wildlife reserve, severe flooding forced the evacuation of around 600 tourists and staff to higher ground. Several camps, restaurants, and access roads were submerged after rivers overflowed, leading authorities to close the park to new visitors as a precaution. While no injuries were reported there, large sections of the reserve remain cut off.

Climate experts say the extreme rainfall may be linked to La Niña conditions, which often bring heavier-than-normal rains to southeastern Africa. With more rain forecast, governments across the region remain on high alert as rescue efforts continue and communities brace for further flooding.

The latest disaster adds to a series of extreme weather events that have struck southern Africa in recent years, including destructive cyclones and severe droughts. Aid agencies warn that the combined impact of flooding, crop losses, and damaged infrastructure could deepen food insecurity and humanitarian needs across the region in the months ahead.

#Global News