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The Associated Press
MAPUTO, Mozambique
- Flooding caused by heavy rain in Mozambique has killed four
people, left thousands homeless and destroyed farmland, media
reports said Sunday.
State radio
said the four deaths had occurred in the central Zambezia province
since heavy rains started falling last week. It said about 17,000
people had been affected by flooding in the province, but did
not specify how many had lost their homes, crops or livelihood.
Lucas Chomera
the provincial governor, who overflew the affected districts of
Namacurra and Maganja da Costa, told the state-owned Sunday paper,
Domingo: "It is a worrying situation. Our priority is to
save the population and provide food assistance."
Mozambique
is still recovering from floods early last year which devastated
the southern and central regions of the country, killing 700 people
and causing damage estimated at $600 million.
In the latest
floods, the Red Cross and other aid organizations have been helping
the victims, supplying them with food, seeds and household utensils.
Seven inflatable boats were sent to the area to be used in rescue
operations.
Flooding also
has hit the northwestern province of Tete and Beira, capital of
the central province of Sofala.
Radio Mozambique
reported that 24,000 people had been affected by flooding in Tete.
No deaths were reported there, with people having been warned
to move to higher ground.
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