ET

MOZAMBIQUE has begun an emergency operation to move more than 80,000 people from land below the Cahora Bassa dam which was within a few inches of being breached by the storm-swollen Zambezi yesterday.

Fifty-two people have already died in flooding in the country, where about 700 were drowned last year despite a huge, helicopter-borne international relief operation. Thousands are again in danger as water lapped within 13 inches of the top of the 1,000ft dam, forcing the authorities to prepare to open sluices.

If they are opened a wave of water will sweep down the lower Zambezi valley, giving only about 48 hours before towns and villages downstream are flooded. Silvano Langa, of the National Disaster Management Institute, said the government had ordered the removal of about 10,000 people around the town of Marromeu and is preparing to move another 74,000.

The authorities do not want a repeat of last year when flood warnings were ignored by farming communities eking out a subsistence living on the banks of the main rivers. Emergency teams have been ordered to be tougher and to use force if necessary.

Mozambique is seeking £20 million aid to deal with the crisis. South Africa is sending seven helicopters and three cargo aircraft and Britain is expected to come under pressure to help if the situation deteriorates.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001