By Jose Tembe in Maputo BBC News
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| Thousands were displaced by last year's flooding |
Heavy rains
in Mozambique are continuing to cause damage.
Now the road
linking the Mozambican port city of Beira to Zimbabwe has in effect
been cut off by the flood waters of the Pungue River in Sofala
province.
The death
toll from flooding in neighbouring Zambezia province, which was
the first to be hit by persistent torrential rains, has now risen
to seven.
These latest
problems come at a time when the country is still trying to get
over the flooding of last year.
Road impassable
The Central
Regional Water Board has warned motorists not to use the Beira
road because a bridge about 70 kilometres west of the city is
completely under water.
The levels of the Pungoe and Buzi rivers have been rising rapidly
following the torrential rains, which have been falling in Sofala
province since the weekend.
Buzi was one
of the rivers responsible for the catastrophic floods of February
last year.
The water
board says it is continuing to monitor the situation, and is issuing
alerts, warning people living in areas at risk to seek higher
ground.
In Beira,
dozens of houses built of flimsy materials have collapsed, and
many others have been invaded by the storm waters. About 1,000
people have fled their homes and taken refuge in city schools.
Danger
to health
In Beira,
the rains have also soaked and dispersed piles of uncollected
rubbish. This poses serious risks to public health which is already
bad because of outbreaks of malaria and cholera.
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| Transport is getting difficult |
In addition,
fallen electricity cables have already claimed two lives by electrocution.
The death
toll from flooding in the neighbouring province of Zambezia, the
first to be hit by rains and floods, has risen to seven, with
three other people reported missing and feared drowned.
Transport
Minister Tomaz Salomao, who flew over flooded areas of the province
on Wednesday, described the situation in the small town of Nante
as serious.
Mr Salomao
said there is a need to reinforce the existing rescue means. So
far, there are 14 boats and two helicopters.
The Zambezia
provincial governor, Luca Chomera, says the province needs more
than $700,000 to cope with the heavy rains and flooding. There
is an urgent need to improve roads, water supply, sanitation and
food aid.
Mr Chomera
said priority would also be given to re-opening Zambezia's access
routes in order to normalise people's lives and facilitate aid
distribution, including seeds and agricultural tools.
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