Maputo authorities suspend classes due to flooding

The State Secretariat of the City of Maputo decided this Monday to suspend the activities of schools and vocational schools due to flooding caused by the heavy rains that have hit the Mozambican capital since early Sunday morning.

“Due to the rains, which have been felt since the early morning of March 24 this year, in the city of Maputo, some access roads have become impassable, courtyards and classrooms are flooded, which affects the normal course of classes in almost the entire city. city,” the Maputo State Secretariat said in a statement.

The suspension of teaching activities will last until the 29th and is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and trainees, the statement said.

At least four people were killed, two were injured and 12,740 others were injured as heavy rain was recorded in southern Mozambique, according to the National Emergency Center (Cenoe).

Bad weather that hit the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane also led to the total or partial destruction of 11 houses and the flooding of a further 9,985, with authorities setting up a total of 27 reception centers in the three provinces, currently housing at least 7,658 people.

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) forecasts the weather will improve in the south of the country, but warns of moderate to heavy rain starting on Tuesday in Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa in northern Mozambique.

Overall data from the National Institute for Disaster Management and Reduction (INGD) indicates 135 deaths and more than 130,000 people affected in the current monsoon season, which runs from October to April.

Mozambique is considered one of the countries hardest hit by global climate change, experiencing cyclical floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season.