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Mozambique flood death toll rises as authorities warn of more bodies

Jan 27, 2026, 4:39 AM30
(Update: Jan 30, 2026, 1:01 AM)
country in Southeastern Africa
capital of Mozambique

Mozambique flood death toll rises as authorities warn of more bodies

  • Severe floods in Mozambique over the past two weeks have resulted in 13 reported deaths.
  • The flooding has affected over half a million people, with parts of Maputo submerged.
  • Aid workers anticipate that more bodies will be discovered as water levels recede, signaling ongoing disaster recovery challenges.
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In late January 2026, Mozambique faced devastating floods that have claimed at least 13 lives over two weeks. The country's authorities reported that these floods have affected over half a million people, with many towns submerged due to heavy rains causing rivers and dams to overflow. Some areas in the capital, Maputo, experienced severe flooding that rendered buildings submerged and isolated from larger regions due to road blockages. Aid workers are anticipating that the death toll will continue to rise as conditions improve and flooding recedes, which may uncover additional bodies that have not been recovered. The United Nations representative in Mozambique, Mary Louise Eagleton, indicated particular concern for vulnerable populations, like children, who are often disproportionately affected by disaster incidents of this nature. The flooding in Mozambique has been described as the worst the country has seen since the catastrophic floods of 2000. The severity of the rains has been linked to human-induced climate change by researchers, who warned that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common in southern Africa. Recent studies have shown that this exceptional rainfall has resulted in widespread destruction, with damage estimates reaching millions of dollars. It is noted that the region received a year's worth of rain within a span of just ten days, indicating a significant shift toward these more violent weather patterns. Scientists of the World Weather Attribution confirmed that climate change has seriously exacerbated the recent torrential rains, making them more intense than historical occurrences. Though the nation has systems in place for early warnings and mandatory evacuations, the combination of extreme weather and many areas remaining inaccessible has complicated rescue and recovery efforts, posing ongoing challenges for affected communities. The expectation is that preparation and response to climate-related disasters will need further development, especially in the context of increased occurrences in the coming years.

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