Mozambique’s Zambézia province has recorded at least 17 fatalities and 46 injuries due to lightning strikes since October. Severe rainfall has caused substantial damage, destroying over 800 homes and affecting schools and health facilities. Assistance includes pre-positioned supplies and emergency vessels to support affected families. The government stresses the need for effective communication and partnerships to manage disaster responses.
In the province of Zambézia, Mozambique, lightning strikes have sadly resulted in the deaths of at least seventeen individuals, with an additional 46 sustaining injuries since October of the previous year. Local authorities have reported that 120 families have required assistance due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rains and flooding. This information was shared by Hélder da Costa, provincial delegate of the National Institute for Natural Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD), during the 1st Ordinary Session of the State Representation Council in Quelimane.
Since the onset of the rainy season, Zambézia has experienced rainfall ranging from moderate to heavy, with instances reaching up to 30 millimeters within a 24-hour period. The most affected districts include Morrumbala, Alto Molócuè, Maganja da Costa, Chinde, Milange, Mocuba, and Quelimane. As a consequence, over 800 homes were entirely destroyed, while 1,300 others, including nine health facilities and 46 schools, sustained partial damage, thereby impacting educational access for 22,000 students and 390 teachers.
Furthermore, damages extend to 63.94 kilometers of roads, with 44 electricity transmission poles collapsed and 36 hectares of agricultural land inundated. In response to these disasters, INGD has pre-positioned essential supplies, including cooking oil, soap, rice, flour, tents, and additional items in districts prone to adverse weather such as Luabo, Maganja da Costa, Mopeia, Morrumbala, Namacurra, Chinde, Inhassunge, and Nicoadala.
In efforts to support those affected, 120 families in the districts of Gurué, Luabo, and Molumbo have received multi-purpose assistance consisting of food and non-food items, including tents and water purification devices. Additionally, nine vessels for emergency response have been pre-positioned for allocation across several districts, with two boats designated specifically for Quelimane. It is important to note that these resources will be supplemented by vessels from various partners.
During the session, Avelino Muchine, the Secretary of State for Zambézia, emphasized the importance of improving communication and enhancing partnerships with the media to mitigate disaster impacts. He highlighted that the current situation necessitates government mobilization of resources and collaboration with both national and international partners for the swift restoration of damaged infrastructure.
The province of Zambézia in Mozambique faces significant challenges due to severe weather events, specifically lightning strikes and flooding, which have caused deaths, injuries, and extensive infrastructure damage. The government, through the INGD, is actively responding by providing immediate assistance and coordinating emergency resources. Improved communication and partnerships are critical in addressing the ongoing impacts of these natural disasters.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
