Tens of thousands of people in Mozambique are being rescued as rising waters continue to devastate the southern African nation - the worst flooding in a generation.
Teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been helping with life-saving rescue operations.
For me, this is the first time I have experienced a calamity of this magnitude. Elders say a similar disaster took place in the 1990s, 24-year-old mechanic Tomaz Antonio Mlau shares with a sense of disbelief.
Mlau and his family, who live near Marracuene, woke up to find their house inundated after the Inkomati River burst its banks.
“When a rescue boat arrived, we did not hesitate to board it and reached safety,” he said, emphasizing their loss as they had to abandon all belongings except for a change of clothes.
In total, over 650,000 individuals have been affected by the floods, with reports of at least 642,122 requiring assistance, and unfortunately, 12 fatalities recorded so far. As rescue operations persist, many remain reluctant to leave their homes, clinging to treetops and rooftops in a desperate attempt to stay safe.
With worsening conditions anticipated as rains in South Africa could exacerbate the flooding, Mayor Shafee Sidat asserts that the situation remains dire.
Local shelters are overwhelmed as displaced residents express gratitude for ongoing rescue efforts but highlight the urgent need for food and adequate shelter, invoking a spirit of community amid adversity.
Teams from Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been helping with life-saving rescue operations.
For me, this is the first time I have experienced a calamity of this magnitude. Elders say a similar disaster took place in the 1990s, 24-year-old mechanic Tomaz Antonio Mlau shares with a sense of disbelief.
Mlau and his family, who live near Marracuene, woke up to find their house inundated after the Inkomati River burst its banks.
“When a rescue boat arrived, we did not hesitate to board it and reached safety,” he said, emphasizing their loss as they had to abandon all belongings except for a change of clothes.
In total, over 650,000 individuals have been affected by the floods, with reports of at least 642,122 requiring assistance, and unfortunately, 12 fatalities recorded so far. As rescue operations persist, many remain reluctant to leave their homes, clinging to treetops and rooftops in a desperate attempt to stay safe.
With worsening conditions anticipated as rains in South Africa could exacerbate the flooding, Mayor Shafee Sidat asserts that the situation remains dire.
Local shelters are overwhelmed as displaced residents express gratitude for ongoing rescue efforts but highlight the urgent need for food and adequate shelter, invoking a spirit of community amid adversity.
