More than 100 dead as Southern Africa battles flood disaster

Weather services across the region have warned that further heavy rain is expected, raising fears of additional destruction and displacement.

In Mozambique, authorities reported at least 103 fatalities since late last year as heavy rains inundated central and southern provinces, affecting more than 200,000 people and damaging thousands of homes. In neighbouring South Africa, floods have led to at least 30 deaths in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, prompting the deployment of army helicopters to rescue those stranded on rooftops and evacuate residents, tourists and workers from flooded areas.

Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency has reported around 70 deaths related to the flooding, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed and critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges badly damaged. The combined impact in the three nations illustrates the scale of the crisis and the strain on emergency services already stretched by evacuations and ongoing rescue efforts.

The region’s wet season has been unusually severe, with prolonged downpours saturating soils and swelling river systems, contributing to widespread flooding and power outages. Officials and aid agencies have urged residents to remain vigilant, moving to higher ground where possible and following evacuation orders as further rainfall is forecast.

The floods have also disrupted key economic sectors, including agriculture and tourism, underscoring the wider social and economic challenges that disasters like this can bring to communities and governments across southern Africa.