800 people trapped by rising floodwaters in central Mozambique, awaiting rescue

800 people trapped by floodwaters in Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique — Mozambican authorities say about 800 people are trapped by rising floodwaters and in need of rescue.

Mozambique’s National Disaster Management Institute said Wednesday that three districts in the central Zambezi valley have been cut off due to worsening floods.

The 800 people awaiting rescue have been trapped since Tuesday.

The government is evacuating approximately 130,000 people living on the banks of three main rivers in central Mozambique, after the flood alert level was raised to “red” on Tuesday.

Two people have died in the floods since the end of February.

Disaster management official Luis Pacheco says the situation may worsen with the opening of floodgates on several dams, including one in Zambia.