The National Institute of Meteorology of Mozambique (INAM) warned this Monday of a heat wave that will affect three provinces in the south of the country until Friday, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
The warning, issued by INAM at 10am local time (two hours behind Lisbon) this Monday, is valid until midnight on November 24 and identifies seven districts of Maputo province as “risk areas”, in addition to the capital and Matola, the 13th district of Gaza, in addition to the city Xai Xai, and the three districts of Inhambane.
“INAM forecasts a continued heat wave characterized by hot or very hot and humid weather,” the agency said in its warning, adding the possibility of thunderstorms and the prospect of maximum temperatures “that could range from 35 to 38 degrees.”
“In addition, very hot weather continues to prevail in the central part of the country, leading to strong winds, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and hail in the Zambezi Valley,” the warning adds.
INAM acknowledges that this heat wave may cause “discomfort,” advising the public to take “precautionary and safety measures.”
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi called in late September to prepare people and communities for the predictable effects of an El Niño event in the country in the coming months, predicting above-normal rainfall and outbreaks of drought. .
“History repeats itself. Therefore, we must create conditions for sustainability. In this sense, the government will issue regular warnings to keep the population informed and prepared for weather conditions that may be unfavorable for life, production or infrastructure,” the head of state described.
Filipe Nyusi said current forecasts “indicate” that the country will once again “register the El Niño phenomenon”, which “could bring normal rains with an above-normal trend in the center and north of the country, as well as normal rains with a below-normal trend. which could lead to some drought conditions in the southern region.”
“This requires all of us to be cautious and prepared to confront this challenge caused by climate change. Let’s get organized. I pay attention to saving and reserving water for consumption and for our livestock,” he further warned.
“This is the appeal I make to the entire country. Therefore, let us be careful and follow those directions to mitigate the impact, avoid or minimize damage and losses, including human lives, on the one hand, on the other, which we exercise adequate management and responsibility for water, especially during periods of water shortage.” , he added in the same message.
Mozambique is considered one of the countries worst hit by climate change in the world, experiencing cyclical floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.
The 2018/2019 rainy season was one of the harshest in Mozambique’s history, with 714 people killed, including 648 victims of Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, two of the largest to ever hit the country.
According to official government data, in the first quarter of this year, heavy rains and the passage of Cyclone Freddy caused the death of 306 people, affected more than 1.3 million people in the country, and destroyed 236 thousand houses and 3,200 classrooms.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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