The operation involved marines of the Mozambican armed forces, using eight boats, some of which the government's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), moved from the Zambezi valley, where they had been involved in similar work.
Government officials estimate that at least 28,000 people were affected by the flooding in Buzi town alone.
Buzi district administrator Sergio Moiane, cited in Thursday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", said that many water sources and latrines have been destroyed by the floods. 13 primary schools were inundated, leaving about 17,000 students without classes.
Another eight schools were also closed because their premises are being used as accommodation centres.
Moiane added that 72 people took refuge in the residence of the "regulo" (quasi-traditional chief) in the area of Guara-Guara, where hundreds of houses were either destroyed or submerged, and large areas of planted crops were flooded.
Buzi town has been isolated from the rest of the country, because the road linking Buzi to Tica, on the Beira-Zimbabwe highway, has became impassable.
Overland communication between the various administrative posts - Nova Sofala, Estaquinha, Grudja and Bandua - within Buzi district has also become impossible.
The situation, that started worsening on Saturday, is posing difficulty even for the movements of the rescue boats, because of the strong currents on the river INGC deputy director Joao Ribeiro, who overflew the flooded area, described the situation as critical, and his institution has identified new areas for the accommodation of the victims.
He praised local authorities for their prompt response, which allowed a quick evacuation of the affected people to safer areas.
Ribeiro said that the main work now is to organize the accommodation centres and other complementary actions, which calls for more boats and more staff, food, and helicopters if the need arises.
"We are going to strengthen our intervention, because the situation requires aid from the central level", he said, adding that the Sofala provincial government is to be closely involved in public health activities.
"The situation is critical, but under control, because the floods came at a time when the district was already prepared, with an emergency operations room, thanks to a simulation process conducted in November by the INGC in Buzi and Caia", said Ribeiro.
He described Grudja locality as the most critical, with an urgent need for food aid. The United Nations World Food Programme has promised to send, this Thursday, food to last for at least 15 days.
SOURCE: AIM
