Death toll climbs in Mozambique

After weeks of flooding in Mozambique throughout January, many people have been left homeless and are forced to reside in makeshift camps, as reported by Africa News via AFP on January 28th.

The death toll continues to rise rapidly, while pregnant women are being forced to give birth in places not affected by the water, such as school desks.

Since early October 2025, at least 140 people have been killed in floods, while an estimated 100,000 people are in temporary shelter after being displaced by flooding.

According to the UN on January 27th, more than 500,000 people out of Mozambique’s population of around 35 million had been affected by the flooding.

Emergency crews in the southern Maputo province have flown over flooded land, scanning for stranded residents and assessing the damage; rescue crews are also searching for survivors that are currently unaccounted for through thick mud and waterlogged homes.

The UN’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that January’s torrential rains had “triggered a rapidly escalating emergency across vast swathes of Mozambique, particularly in the south.”

Reportedly, the flooding has destroyed critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, power lines, and water systems, as well as schools and parks.

According to UNICEF spokesman Guy Taylor, the flooding is “turning unsafe water, disease outbreaks, and malnutrition into a deadly threat for children. The fact that Mozambique is now entering into its annual cyclone season creates the risk of a double crisis.”

Cyclones typically occur in Mozambique between November and April; in March 2025, Cyclone Jude brought winds of 120 km per hour and torrential rain, destroying houses and leaving people without power.

Mozambique experienced four major cyclones between 2024 and 2025, following a severe drought in 2024; the weather conditions have also disrupted food and medical supplies, disproportionately affecting children.

A nationwide red alert, the highest level, has been issued due to severe flooding. Officials fear the situation will deteriorate further due to forecasts of heavy rain in the coming days, which may result in the death toll rising further.

Africa News via AFP, Maghrebi.org