Mozambique’s National Disaster Risk Management Institute (INGD) has confirmed that at least 18 people have died in the second wave of severe flooding to hit the country this rainy season. The latest fatalities, caused by drowning, bring the total death toll since October to 296, underscoring the prolonged and deadly impact of the annual weather cycle.
The March floods have primarily affected central and northern regions, with the provinces of Sofala, Tete, Niassa, and Inhambane reporting the highest number of impacted households. This marks a shift from the first wave in January, which devastated southern areas, particularly Gaza province, where cities like Xai-Xai and Chokwe were inundated. That initial flooding alone resulted in approximately 50 deaths and affected nearly 725,000 people.
According to INGD Chairperson Luisa Meque, the current disaster response includes 31 active accommodation centres nationwide, providing shelter for around 10,000 displaced individuals. Inhambane province alone operates four centres housing approximately 4,000 people. These figures highlight the widespread displacement as communities are forced to evacuate inundated homes.
The cumulative impact since the start of the rainy season in October is substantial. In addition to the 296 fatalities, over one million people have been affected by floodwaters. The INGD also reports 17 people remain missing and 351 have sustained injuries across both flood events.
The rainy season in Mozambique typically runs from October through April, a period consistently marked by flooding due to heavy tropical rains and river overflows. The recurrence of severe flooding within a single season, first in the south and now in central and northern zones, demonstrates the extensive geographical vulnerability and the strain on national disaster response capacities.
As the season continues, authorities are maintaining emergency operations to assist those displaced and affected. The persistent threat of further rainfall and rising water levels keeps large populations at risk, with the official tally expected to evolve as assessments continue in the coming weeks.
