This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7182337.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thousands flee Zambezi flooding | Thousands flee Zambezi flooding |
| (3 days later) | |
| Some 50,000 people in Mozambique have been displaced by flooding along the Zambezi valley, authorities say. | Some 50,000 people in Mozambique have been displaced by flooding along the Zambezi valley, authorities say. |
| They say between 150,000 and 200,000 people could be affected over the coming weeks if forecast rains fall in upper reaches of the valley. | They say between 150,000 and 200,000 people could be affected over the coming weeks if forecast rains fall in upper reaches of the valley. |
| The Zambezi has already burst its banks in some areas forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. | The Zambezi has already burst its banks in some areas forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. |
| Villagers have described climbing trees and running to higher ground to escape the floodwaters. | Villagers have described climbing trees and running to higher ground to escape the floodwaters. |
| And the river is continuing to rise. | And the river is continuing to rise. |
| Antonio, a villager in Sofala in central Mozambique said the effect of the rains had been terrible. | Antonio, a villager in Sofala in central Mozambique said the effect of the rains had been terrible. |
| "People had to climb trees and run to high ground," he told Reuters news agency. "People don't have anywhere to go - we just hope help will come." | "People had to climb trees and run to high ground," he told Reuters news agency. "People don't have anywhere to go - we just hope help will come." |
| Relentless | Relentless |
| January is usually the middle of the wet season for southern Africa but is rarely as wet as this, says the BBC's Peter Greste in central Mozambique. | January is usually the middle of the wet season for southern Africa but is rarely as wet as this, says the BBC's Peter Greste in central Mozambique. |
| Floodwaters have destroyed homes, livestock and infrastructure href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7180000/newsid_7183900?redirect=7183910.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">The rising waters | |
| Across northern Zimbabwe, southern Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, relentless rain has waterlogged fields, destroyed fields and washed out roads and villages. | Across northern Zimbabwe, southern Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, relentless rain has waterlogged fields, destroyed fields and washed out roads and villages. |
| Damage to crops and roads has raised fears of food shortages, and aid agencies have also warned of increased risk of waterborne diseases and diseases caused by poor sanitation. | Damage to crops and roads has raised fears of food shortages, and aid agencies have also warned of increased risk of waterborne diseases and diseases caused by poor sanitation. |
| The Zambian government has appealed for $13m (£6.6m) in foreign aid to help deal with the effects of flooding, which officials say has displaced thousands of people. | The Zambian government has appealed for $13m (£6.6m) in foreign aid to help deal with the effects of flooding, which officials say has displaced thousands of people. |
| Zambia's head of disaster management, Austin Sichinga, said that the heavy rains had also caused extensive damage to infrastructure. | Zambia's head of disaster management, Austin Sichinga, said that the heavy rains had also caused extensive damage to infrastructure. |
| In low-lying areas of Zimbabwe, flooding has destroyed homes, livestock and infrastructure, aid agencies report. | In low-lying areas of Zimbabwe, flooding has destroyed homes, livestock and infrastructure, aid agencies report. |
| Heavy floods have also destroyed homes and crops, displacing thousands of people in southern and central Malawi, reports the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre. | Heavy floods have also destroyed homes and crops, displacing thousands of people in southern and central Malawi, reports the BBC's Raphael Tenthani in Blantyre. |
| Property and infrastructure is now being wrecked but we are worried about the people Paulo ZuculaMozambique National Institute for Disaster Management | Property and infrastructure is now being wrecked but we are worried about the people Paulo ZuculaMozambique National Institute for Disaster Management |
| The Malawian government is warning people to relocate from flood-prone areas, but many are reluctant to leave their farms, our correspondent reports. | The Malawian government is warning people to relocate from flood-prone areas, but many are reluctant to leave their farms, our correspondent reports. |
| In Mozambique, where floodwaters have reached a depth of 6m in some areas, six people are known to have died - four drowned and two were killed by crocodiles. | In Mozambique, where floodwaters have reached a depth of 6m in some areas, six people are known to have died - four drowned and two were killed by crocodiles. |
| Some 27,000 people face food shortages in the affected areas, Radio Mozambique reports. | Some 27,000 people face food shortages in the affected areas, Radio Mozambique reports. |
| More to come | More to come |
| And the worry is that the worst may not be over. | And the worry is that the worst may not be over. |
| This is because rain falling in the upper catchments area of the Zambezi has not yet travelled downstream. | This is because rain falling in the upper catchments area of the Zambezi has not yet travelled downstream. |
| Thousands of people in the region have been displaced | Thousands of people in the region have been displaced |
| There is still the risk of another surge as water from rainfall upstream flows though the Zambezi River valley in the centre of the country, our correspondent says. | There is still the risk of another surge as water from rainfall upstream flows though the Zambezi River valley in the centre of the country, our correspondent says. |
| The UN resident coordinator for Mozambique, Ndolam Ngokwe, told the BBC that 50,000 people had been evacuated to resettlement centres and the numbers were expected to increase. | The UN resident coordinator for Mozambique, Ndolam Ngokwe, told the BBC that 50,000 people had been evacuated to resettlement centres and the numbers were expected to increase. |
| Mozambique's National Institute of Disaster Management has been co-ordinating the emergency response. | Mozambique's National Institute of Disaster Management has been co-ordinating the emergency response. |
| Working with soldiers and international relief agencies, it has used boats and helicopters to move people to temporary accommodation centres away from the river. | Working with soldiers and international relief agencies, it has used boats and helicopters to move people to temporary accommodation centres away from the river. |
| Its director, Paulo Zucula, says that if forecast rains fall in the catchment area, the Zambezi could reach levels as high as in 2000. Then, half a million people fled the rising water. | Its director, Paulo Zucula, says that if forecast rains fall in the catchment area, the Zambezi could reach levels as high as in 2000. Then, half a million people fled the rising water. |
| A further 14,000 people will be evacuated from the northern bank of the Zambezi on Saturday as water levels keep rising, Mr Zucula told Reuters. | A further 14,000 people will be evacuated from the northern bank of the Zambezi on Saturday as water levels keep rising, Mr Zucula told Reuters. |
| "Two or three resettlement areas may not be safe. Property and infrastructure is now being wrecked but we are worried about the people," Mr Zucula said. | "Two or three resettlement areas may not be safe. Property and infrastructure is now being wrecked but we are worried about the people," Mr Zucula said. |