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Catastrophic Flooding Ravages Southern Africa
More than 200 people have lost their lives as devastating floods sweep across southern Africa, affecting Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Madagascar. The region has been battered by relentless heavy rains since late 2025, with authorities warning that more severe weather is expected in the coming days.
Country-by-Country Impact
Mozambique has suffered the heaviest casualties, with authorities reporting 103 deaths from drowning, lightning strikes, collapsing infrastructure, and cholera outbreaks. According to the UN World Food Programme, the worst flooding has occurred in central and southern regions, affecting over 200,000 people. Thousands of homes have been damaged, and tens of thousands face imminent evacuation.
In Zimbabwe, the death toll stands at 70, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed and multiple bridges and roads washed away. Madagascar reports 11 fatalities, while South Africa has confirmed at least 30 deaths in northern provinces, with approximately 1,000 homes damaged.
Kruger National Park Emergency
One of the most dramatic scenes unfolded at South Africa's world-famous Kruger National Park, where 600 tourists and staff had to be evacuated by helicopter from flooded camp areas. 'We had to move people to higher ground within the park,' a park spokesperson told the Associated Press. The park, which normally attracts 1-2 million visitors annually, has been closed indefinitely as rising rivers have cut off access between different sections.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the disaster zone on Thursday, revealing that the region received around 400 millimeters of rain within just a few days. 'This is one of the most severe weather events our region has experienced in recent memory,' Ramaphosa told reporters.
La Niña Connection and Warnings
Weather experts attribute the extreme rainfall to the La Niña phenomenon, part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern that brings intense precipitation to southern Africa. The South African Weather Service has issued its highest warning level for the first time in four years, while the US Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS) has linked the disaster directly to La Niña conditions.
Rescue operations continue across the region, with South African military helicopters rescuing people from rooftops and trees in the hardest-hit areas. The disaster highlights the increasing vulnerability of southern Africa to extreme weather events, with climate scientists warning that such events may become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
