While the exact numbers are uncertain, the United Nations is saying the death toll in Mozambique, Malawi and the island nation of Madagascar is at least 260, along with over 360,000 people being displaced by the heavy flooding. Crops have been lost and thousands of farm animals have died.
Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce explained what happened: “Winds converging along an active monsoon trough led to the several rounds of heavy rain and the resulting flooding in Malawi and Mozambique. This included a disturbance which eventually became Tropical Storm Chedza in the waters between Mozambique and Madagascar.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more rain is forecast for Southern Africa over the next few days, worsening the already horrendous disaster. Hardest hit has been Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. With a population of 16 million people, 176 have been confirmed dead and over 121,000 displaced by the flooding, according to Reuters.
In Malawi, President Peter Mutharika, while visiting displaced people in Balaka, told reporters the disaster was the worst in Malawi’s history. Vice President Saulos Chilima estimated the country would be needing $430 million in humanitarian assistance.
OCHA is reporting that in Mozambique, with help from the South African army and navy, search and rescue operation are under way. Pasquale Capizzi, a spokesman for the U.N.’s humanitarian team in Mozambique, told Reuters, “People have drowned trying to … reach safe areas. The country is cut in half because … the main road south to north is cut in Zambezia where a bridge has been destroyed by the waters.”
