Flood Journal Entry

Floods Rage in Southern Africa (February 11, 2000)

Flooding from days of torrential rains has swept through the southern African nations of South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana and left more than 100,000 people homeless. In South Africa, where at least thirty-nine people have died, the floods have washed away major roads and bridges and swollen some rivers to their highest levels in 50 years. Many of the victims died while attempting to cross one major river that overflowed its banks. In Kruger National Park, which was swamped with 45 centimeters (18 inches) of rain in less than 24 hours, the floods stranded 20 visitors and sent game animals scrambling for higher ground.

The floods have also taken their toll in neighboring Mozambique. According to local news sources, at least thirty-two people were killed and thousands of others are homeless in the capital Maputo and town of Matola. A major water treatment station was not working, raising the danger of disease from contaminated drinking water.

In Botswana, floods blocked nearly all traffic to the capital Gaborone, caused a reservoir to overflow, submerged the country's only railroad, and ruined crops. At least three people have drowned. Rain is usually considered so precious in the normally-dry nation that the local currency is called "pula," the word for rain.