The Mozambican National Meteorology Institute (INAM) extended the weather warning on Sunday for heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds and thunderstorms, which have been mainly affecting the southern part of the country since Saturday, to the central provinces.
In its yellow warning, the Inam forecasts the continuation of moderate rainfall, locally heavy, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, with precipitation varying between 30 and 50 millimeters in 24 hours.
The risk areas marked by Mozambican authorities include 13 districts and one city in the Gaza province, 11 districts and two cities in Inhambane, in the south of the country, as well as nine districts and one city in Manica, and 11 districts and one city in Sofala, in the center.
“Additionally, it is expected that local rainfall will continue in weak and moderate regimes, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms, across the rest of the country,” it states.
The Inam recommends taking precautionary and safety measures in response to the rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds.
On Saturday, the Inam also issued a yellow warning, alerting about the forecast of moderate and locally very heavy rains, accompanied at times by thunderstorms and winds in the southern provinces of the country, including Maputo, the capital.
The bad weather that hit Maputo left several streets in the center of the Mozambican capital completely flooded, with fallen trees and toppled advertising structures, disrupting traffic on different arteries, especially in the downtown area.
During a round made by Lusa in the city on Saturday afternoon, it was possible to observe fallen trees, several toppled advertising structures and protective walls, brought down by the force of the strong wind and rain accompanied by thunder, while some areas were left without electricity.
On the outskirts of the city, the force of the waves and the wind were carrying the sea over the road, leaving the street unsafe for traffic.
Read more about this topic: Floods: Death toll in Mozambique’s current rainy season rises to 258
Mozambique is considered one of the countries most affected by climate change, cyclically facing floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.
The number of deaths during the current rainy season in Mozambique has so far reached 263, with nearly 870,000 people affected since October, according to data from the National Institute of Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD).
During the current rainy season, 869,035 people were affected, corresponding to 200,843 families, with 10 people missing and 331 injured, according to the same report.
The floods in January alone caused at least 43 deaths, 147 injuries, and nine missing persons, affecting a total of 724,131 people.
