Flood Journal Entry

Toll Climbs from African Floods (February 18, 2000)

Continued heavy rains worsened the floods raging in southern Africa, described as the worst in the region in 50 years. The floods have submerged large areas of the countries of Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa. At least 90 people have died and the total could climb much higher as more information comes in from remote areas.

In Mozambique, about 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Vast stretches of the fertile Limpopo Valley are under water, and health officials worried about outbreaks of malaria and cholera from contaminated drinking water in Maputo.

In South Africa, several major rivers spilled over their banks. The Levubu River and Rooi Bokkraal regions were most at-risk of new flooding. In Botswana, flooding was widespread after rivers overflowed and dams burst. The floods have paralyzed both rail and road traffic.

Disaster officials are concerned that the remnants of a tropical cyclone that slammed Madagascar would bring additional flooding.