Mapai, Mozambique, Jan. 16, 2026 (Lusa) - All 68 people, including two pregnant women, who had been stranded since Sunday in the Mapai region of Gaza province in southern Mozambique, were rescued on Friday, local authorities told Lusa, acknowledging that there were "challenges" in accommodating the victims.
"All the people who were stranded have been rescued and taken to the Mafassitela accommodation centre, and we are providing assistance to these people," Maria Langa, administrator of the Mapai region, told Lusa.
At least 68 people, including 23 children and 25 women, had been stranded since Sunday in that Mozambican region and were not rescued on Thursday by an attempted approach by air that was forced to abandon due to the torrential rain.
Speaking to Lusa, the administrator said that among the rescued were two pregnant women who were found to be healthy by health sector assistance, a child with a fever and an adult who suffered burns while attempting to use a vehicle battery to charge a mobile phone.
The administrator said that the 68 people will remain at the Massitela accommodation centre until conditions are safe for travel, so that they can return to their areas or resume their journey, admitting challenges in terms of accommodation conditions.
"There are conditions at the accommodation centre, but there are challenges and there will be difficulties, especially problems with drinking water. If we could also have more food, tents and blankets, that would be an added bonus," said Maria Langa.
These people were stranded while travelling to the region of Massangena, leaving Mapai in the north of Gaza province, having been cut off along the way by the force of the water due to the heavy rains falling across the country.
Maria Langa said earlier that the situation is critical in Mapai due to the heavy rains, with joint efforts by the district government, police, National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) and National Public Rescue Service (Sensap) to help those trapped.
The Mozambican president said earlier that the Government is hoping for an improvement in weather conditions to rescue members of the public trapped by the rains, arguing that the country needs to "better manage the climatic events" that afflict it in order to prevent further deaths.
The Mozambican National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) today renewed its red warning of very heavy rains in the centre and south, including the city of Maputo, until the end of Saturday, while widespread flooding and extreme rainfall are being reported.
At least 103 people have died and 173,000 have been affected since the start of the rainy season in Mozambique, with 1,160 homes completely destroyed and more than 4,000 partially flooded, the government said today, declaring a national red alert.
The current rainy season, which began in October and runs until April, has been marked by alerts, mainly in the central and southern parts of the country, with the authorities taking action to anticipate floods and extreme rainfall.
PME/AYLS // AYLS
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