Mozambican authorities have established 10 shelters across Maputo province to house about 18,000 people who have been affected by floods in the region, provincial governor Júlio Parruque said on Monday.Parruque told Radio Mozambique that flood victims have been placed in the 10 accommodation centres “where the humanitarian assistance process is already taking place.”   

The floods, which followed heavy rains that lashed parts of Mozambique last week, have left at least five people dead in Maputo province and caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Speaking after visiting some of the affected areas in the districts of Boane and Namaacha, Parruque said the damage caused by the floods was severe in almost the entire province.

“But let it be said, for real, that these rains affected practically the entire population of Maputo province,” he said.

According to the official, “even in Matola, which is more urban, we had very intense urban floods.” 

“There is a large population that needs relief, response and support,” he said.

Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane pledged at the weekend that the Mozambican government would repair the infrastructure damaged by the floods in some parts of Maputo province.