Floods kill more than 100 across southern Africa as rains intensify

Torrential rains have devastated communities from Mozambique to South Africa, displacing hundreds of thousands.Published On 17 Jan 2026Torrential rains have killed more than 100 people across Southern Africa, forcing mass evacuations and rescue operations as authorities warn that more destructive weather may still be to come.Weeks of heavy rainfall have battered South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, overwhelming rivers and infrastructure and leaving entire communities cut off. Weather services across the region have issued further alerts, raising fears of additional flooding.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4After the floods of 2025, can we keep 2026 above water?list 2 of 4Saudi to Sudan: Can Pakistan expand military footprint across Arab world?list 3 of 4What does Israel want in Somaliland?list 4 of 4Which are the 66 global organisations the US is leaving under Trump?end of listIn South Africa, officials said on Friday that flooding in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga had killed at least 30 people.Army helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents trapped on rooftops and in trees as swollen rivers swept through towns and villages. Security personnel were also evacuated from a border checkpoint with Zimbabwe after floodwaters surrounded the area.President Cyril Ramaphosa toured affected parts of Limpopo on Thursday, saying the province had received about 400mm (16 inches) of rain in less than a week. In one district, he said, “there are 36 houses that have just been wiped away from the face of the earth.”Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes had been damaged across the province. “It’s so terrible,” she said.Hundreds of thousands displacedIn neighbouring Zimbabwe, the government’s disaster management agency reported at least 70 deaths since the start of the year, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed, and schools, roads and bridges collapsing under the force of the floods.