NEWS & POLITICS
Southern Africa floods trigger regional humanitarian crisis as death toll rises in South Africa and Mozambique
Southern Africa is grappling with a deepening humanitarian emergency as relentless torrential rains continue to inundate large swathes of the region, triggering deadly floods, mass displacement and widespread infrastructure damage across South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Enos Denhere
SOUTHERN AFRICA| January 19 (Running Africa) - Weeks of heavy rainfall have submerged communities in central and southern Mozambique and northern South Africa, overwhelming rivers, washing away roads and homes, and stretching emergency response systems to breaking point.
South Africa Declares National Disaster After Deadly Floods
Image: apnews.com
South Africa's government on Sunday declared a national state of disaster after extreme weather conditions claimed at least 38 lives in the country's northeast. The provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been hardest hit, with more than 1,300 homes destroyed and thousands of residents displaced.
Large sections of the Kruger National Park remain closed as floodwaters damaged bridges, roads and tourist facilities, underscoring the scale of the environmental and economic fallout.
Concerns have also mounted over the disappearance of Andile Mngwevu, a mayoral committee member responsible for roads and transport in the City of Ekurhuleni. His vehicle was swept away by floodwaters while travelling in Mozambique.
Search Intensifies for Missing South African Official in Mozambique
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According to Daily Maverick, Mngwevu had travelled to the flood-hit town of Chokwé in southern Mozambique on Sunday. South African rescue teams deployed to the area have since made contact with one of the five people who were in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
"The status and whereabouts of MMC Mngwevu and the other occupants remain unconfirmed at this stage," the City of Ekurhuleni said in a statement, as cross-border rescue operations continue under difficult conditions.
Mozambique Flood Death Toll Climbs as President Cancels Davos Trip
Image: Photo by Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua, Facebook
In Mozambique, the scale of devastation has forced President Daniel Chapo to cancel his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Authorities say more than 400,000 people have been affected nationwide, with over 100 deaths confirmed so far.
Entire towns have been submerged, prompting dramatic rescue operations as residents were plucked from rooftops and trees. Presidential helicopters have been deployed to reach isolated communities cut off by rising waters.
Climate Change and La Niña Fuel Extreme Weather
Regional leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have pointed to climate change as a key driver behind the worsening floods. Officials say warmer waters in the southwest Indian Ocean, combined with a stronger La Niña, are intensifying storms and prolonging rainfall across Southern Africa.
The impact has been compounded by lingering damage from Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi in 2025, which weakened infrastructure, eroded soil stability and left many communities acutely vulnerable to renewed flooding.
As rains persist and river levels remain dangerously high, humanitarian agencies warn that the crisis could escalate further, with urgent needs for shelter, food and medical assistance continuing to grow across the region.
