Seventeen deaths and 46 injuries have been reported in Zambézia due to lightning strikes since October. The region has experienced significant flooding and rainfall, affecting over 800 homes and disrupting education for thousands. Assistance is being provided to affected families, with pre-positioned supplies and vessels to enhance disaster response efforts.
In the province of Zambézia, Mozambique, at least seventeen individuals have lost their lives due to lightning strikes, and an additional forty-six have sustained injuries since October of the previous year. Local authorities revealed that they have provided assistance to 120 families affected by severe rainfall and flooding during this period. This information was shared by Hélder da Costa, the provincial delegate of the National Institute for Natural Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), during a session held in Quelimane.
The rainy season has witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall, with precipitation reaching up to 30 millimeters within twenty-four hours, primarily impacting the districts of Morrumbala, Alto Molócuè, Maganja da Costa, Chinde, Milange, Mocuba, and Quelimane. This weather has led to the total destruction of over 800 homes, while an additional 1,300 structures—including nine health facilities and 46 schools—sustained partial damages, disrupting education for 22,000 students and 390 teachers.
Furthermore, infrastructure has suffered extensive damages, with 63.94 kilometers of roads compromised, 44 electricity transmission poles downed, and 36 hectares of agricultural land submerged. In response, INGD has strategically pre-positioned essential supplies such as oil, soap, rice, and tents in districts vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, namely Luabo, Maganja da Costa, Mopeia, Morrumbala, Namacurra, Chinde, Inhassunge, and Nicoadala.
Multi-purpose assistance has been allocated to 120 families in the districts of Gurué, Luabo, and Molumbo, which included food and non-food items like tents and water purifiers. Nine vessels have also been pre-positioned for distribution among the affected districts—one for each of the localities of Chinde, Namacurra, Nicoadala, Maganja da Costa, and Mopeia, with two allocated to Quelimane. The INGD has confirmed that they will collaborate with partners to enhance available resources.
Avelino Muchine, the Secretary of State for Zambézia, stressed the importance of effective communication and the strengthening of media partnerships in order to mitigate disaster impacts. He acknowledged that the current circumstances challenge governmental capacity to mobilize resources, underscoring the necessity for both national and international partnerships to expedite the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure.
The province of Zambézia is facing significant challenges due to severe weather, which has led to numerous fatalities, injuries, and widespread infrastructure damage. Local authorities are actively providing support to affected families and pre-positioning essential supplies to mitigate the impact of future disasters. Collaboration between governmental bodies and media is crucial for effective disaster management and resource mobilization.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
