Benguela, Angola, April 14, 2026 (Lusa) – The site where Lobito Atlantic Railway wagons transported high-value cargo just days ago is now a scene of destruction, featuring exposed pillars, twisted rails, uprooted trees, and vast stretches of mud.
The weekend floods in the Angolan province of Benguela swept away everything in their path, including houses, people, and livestock from "Ti Monteiro's" farm. The farm sits opposite the Cavaco station, sharing its name with the river that burst its banks on Sunday following a breach in a dyke, causing death and chaos.
Zebras, ostriches, and even crocodiles were visible there on Saturday. Now, only muddy terrain remains drying under the intense Benguela sun, with no houses on the horizon, whilst residents try to salvage some of their mud-covered belongings. "Around 8.00 a.m [on Sunday] there was a strong current of water. It rose minute by minute and, by 9.00 a.m, everything was flooded," Belchior Tchipepe, a resident of the Capiandalo neighbourhood for over eight years, told Lusa.
The sudden rise in water levels caught the population by surprise, according to a resident. "We thought it was just rainwater, but suddenly we saw the river rise and the houses became completely flooded. We had to flee to safer areas," he said.
Despite his own house being hit, he managed to take refuge in a neighbour's home. Intrigued by the lack of rain in the immediate area at the time, he described the volume of water as overwhelming: "There was so much water. We couldn't understand where it was coming from. It didn't rain here; we only later realised it was raining on the other side."
The force of the current destroyed infrastructure and completely altered the landscape. The road bridge over the Cavaco River, which connects several points in the city, became submerged, forcing authorities to halt traffic. Meanwhile, the flow severely affected the railway bridge, leading to the suspension of services on the Lobito Corridor. This railway infrastructure remains essential for transporting ore from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Port of Lobito in southern Angola.
"Around 10 a.m., the water passed over the bridge. Authorities closed it," he said. By that time, houses and a local zoo had also disappeared. "Where we are standing now used to be a park with animals. There were zebras, ostriches… everything was swept away," Belchior said.
In neighbouring districts such as Calomanga, identified as one of the hardest hit, the scene of destroyed homes, displaced families, and uncounted human and material losses repeats itself. "Thankfully, it happened in the morning and many people managed to flee, but some did not make it in time and lost their lives," he said.
The Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), an international consortium responsible for operating the 1,300-kilometre railway line across Angola, remains cautious regarding the extent of the damage and has not provided a timeline for resuming operations.
Company sources said that "the priority centres on ensuring people's safety, conducting a technical assessment of the damage, and restoring operational conditions in coordination with the authorities," with the situation currently “under assessment”. Railway traffic is suspended indefinitely following track damage and constraints on the bridges over the Halo and Cavaco rivers in Benguela province, caused by the intense rainfall.
RCR/RYOL // AYLS
Lusa
