Finally getting some really reports on much needed rain in various locales in Zim and Mozambique. Some of those locations include: Nuanetsi, Save Conservancy, Zambesi Valley, Gorongosa/Central Moz.

Floods, lightning claim 124 lives

http://nehandaradio.com/


on January 19, 2013 at 6:40 am

Eighty-six people have drowned while 38 others were struck by lightning across the country since the beginning of the rainy season. The heavy rains have also destroyed 180 houses in Tsholotsho, leaving most of the families homeless.


In Beitbridge district, the rains have caused widespread damage to roads leaving some areas impassable. The Civil Protection Unit yesterday said major rivers in Gokwe such as Ume, Sesame and Sengwa were in flood. Several people were reportedly marooned on some of them.

It urged people in the areas to desist from water-related activities along the rivers.

“Gwayi River and its tributaries in Tsholotsho are in flood. The Tamuhla community is likely to be marooned if the rains continue. We advise them to monitor the river flow,” the department said.

“Several homesteads in Tsholotsho (180 to date) have succumbed to excessive moisture and have collapsed and some families have been left homeless as a result. It is advised that communities monitor their houses to prevent injury and loss of life from collapsing structures.”

According to police, most of the victims drowned after attempting to cross flooded rivers. Others have had vehicles they were travelling in swept away in flooded rivers and bridges. Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri said the incidents were recorded between September 1 and Wednesday.

He said Manicaland and Masvingo provinces recorded the highest number of casualties through drowning with 18 and 13 respectively. “Bulawayo had the lowest number with one person having drowned,” he said.

He said Masvingo had the highest numbers of 12 people struck by lightning followed by Midlands with 11. No such cases were recorded in the other provinces. Supt Phiri discouraged the public from crossing or encouraging drivers to cross flooded rivers and bridges.

He said motorists in cities should drive cautiously since most of the pot holes would be filled with water and this might cause accidents. Four more people, including the driver, drowned when a Mercedes Benz they were travelling in was swept away at a flooded river bridge in Chiredzi on Wednesday.

This brought the total number to 14 people who drowned when their vehicles were swept away at flooded rivers and bridges in separate incidents this month. The incident occurred at around 8pm.

There were several cars queuing at the flooded river but the driver of the Mercedes Benz overtook before plunging into the bridge. Ten people had drowned when vehicles they were travelling in were swept away by flooded rivers and bridges in separate incidents by last week.

In Beitbridge, roads including those linking Tshikwalakwala, Chabili, Masera, Shashe and Swereki with Beitbridge town were destroyed by the heavy rains. This emerged during a tour by the Beitbridge Civil Protection Unit to assess the flood situation in low-lying areas around the district.

And in South Africa;

Severe floods warning across SA

Sunday 20 January 2013 20:28

The Musina Municipality has issued a flood warning to people living close to the banks of the Limpopo river to evacuate their houses.

http://sawdis1.blogspot.com/20...ooding-parts-of.html

Guess the drought is broken!!

Good news for the game animals!

Got some news from back home today, in the Alldays area alone between 7 to 10 inches of rain in the last 2 days, most everything is under water, with more to come! we needed the rain bad thou.

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:
And in South Africa;

Severe floods warning across SA

Sunday 20 January 2013 20:28

The Musina Municipality has issued a flood warning to people living close to the banks of the Limpopo river to evacuate their houses.

http://sawdis1.blogspot.com/20...ooding-parts-of.html

I was surprised when I first heard reports that the Limpopo was flooding yesterday. Most the times I have been along the Limpopo between RSA and Botswana there was never that much water running. 10 years ago it was even just puddles. But this last July when I was hunting croc there was more water running than I have ever seen, but the banks were still 20feet above the river.

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:
And in South Africa;

Severe floods warning across SA

Sunday 20 January 2013 20:28

The Musina Municipality has issued a flood warning to people living close to the banks of the Limpopo river to evacuate their houses.

http://sawdis1.blogspot.com/20...ooding-parts-of.html

A croc warning was also issued, many croc farms have been flooded meaning that several thousand crocs are moving around freely in the rivers....

Anyone from Zim want to comment.

IS this enough to break the drought in the lowveld especially as well as Hwange and the valley?

quote:

Originally posted by Safari2:
Anyone from Zim want to comment.

IS this enough to break the drought in the lowveld especially as well as Hwange and the valley?

I speak for Nuanetsi (situated in Zimbabwe's lowveld) alone as it seems some areas have more rain than others - to answer your question, YES, we have received an avg of 400mm across the Conservancy which is considered to be good. It has been exaggerated in that we have received heavy downpours over short periods of time. The grass has germinated beautifully and the animals are quite content as they are lying in the shaded areas by 9am which is a very good sign of the times as their bellies are full....

Who-ever did the successful rain dance, I thank you!!!!

Cheers,
Brent