Severe flooding sweeps across parts of Mozambique

Severe flooding in Mozambique has displaced hundreds of thousands and destroyed nearly 30,000 homes, prompting President Chapo to cancel his Davos trip to focus on emergency relief.

Reuters

19 January 2026 at 14:11:56

Severe flooding sweeps across parts of Mozambique

An aerial view of the Selati River, which overflowed and damaged some properties after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Phalaborwa, in Limpopo, South Africa, January 16, 2026.

Oupa Nkosi/Reuters

Severe floods caused by heavy rains have left thousands across part of Mozambique stranded officials said on Monday (January 19). Rising waters submerged trees, leaving only the top branches visible above the surface in footage shared by UNICEF. The southern African country has been hit by frequent weather-related disasters that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.

Local media reports said the flooding could be the worst in two decades. The most affected province was Gaza, just north of capital Maputo, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Sunday, citing data from the national disaster agency.

More than 400,000 people have been impacted and more than 29,600 houses have been partially or completely destroyed in five affected provinces, it added.

There were no immediate estimates of the number of people killed or injured. Authorities say more than 100 people have died since the start of the rainy season in October.

President Daniel Chapo cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos and said on social media late on Sunday (January 18) that the priority is to save lives.

Production: Sisipho Skweyiya/Reuters