Mozambique Flood
Limpopo river flooded in 2000
Cause of the flood
It started in South Africa, where heavy rain traveled over to Mozambique. There were five weeks of exceptionally heavy rain brought by cyclone Eline. The rain from South Africa and Botswana traveled down the Limpopo and other rivers connecting to the sea. These rivers eventually burst their banks and caused the flood.
Event Information
Flood
Many of the rivers burst their banks, causing widespread damage. The rivers rose eight metres in 5 days, a massive increase.
When?
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2000, 09:00 PM
Where?
Limpopo River, Mozambique
Statistics
90% of irrigation infrastructure was destroyed, causing mass loss of agriculture.
The rivers rose 8 metres in 5 days, a massive increase.
20,000 cattle were lost.
The Mozambican government requested $450 M in aid.
The total damage estimated was $500 million.
Effects
At least 800 people lost their lives while 463,000 people were displaced. 220,000 people were displaced or made homeless by the initial floods, but more were displaced by Cyclone Eline. The flood increased malaria and diarrhoea in an already diseased country and caused many more deaths.
Bibliography
BBC- http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/water_rivers/river_flooding_management_rev4.shtml
BBC-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/655510.stm
Floodlist-
http://floodlist.com/africa/mozambique-floods-2000
ReliefWeb-
http://reliefweb.int/report/mozambique/too-much-too-late-aid-now-pours-mozambique
Geographyl-
http://www.geographylwc.org.uk/GCSE/igcse/rivergcase/mozambique.html