U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to the Zambézia province or the southern parts of Nampula province in Mozambique are advised to take precautions against widespread flooding and consider alternate travel plans as appropriate. They are further advised to monitor weather reports for northern Mozambique in coming days.
Heavy rainfall in Zambézia has led to flooding of the Licungo river causing widespread damage affecting large numbers of people and cutting off the main national highway (N1) connecting central Mozambique to the north. The Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) has activated an institutional red disaster alert for the central and northern region. This type of alert signifies that the relief effort is within the GRM capacity, which includes their humanitarian partners. Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) is actively monitoring and managing the situation. As the rains continue, larger areas could become affected.
Since Sunday January 11, Zambézia province and southern Nampula province have continued to experience heavy rainfall. From January 11-12, 165.5 mm of rainfall was recorded in Cuamba and 120.8 mm in Milange. In the last 24 hours, moderate to heavy rains were registered in Zambézia: 111 mm in Tsangano, 98 mm in Caia, and 68 mm in Megaza. Satellite images suggest this region will receive more rainfall as a result of a low pressure system that could develop into a cyclone over the Mozambican Channel next to Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces.
Access to roads in Zambézia province has been interrupted due to flooding that cut the main N1 road in Mocuba connecting central and northern Mozambique. Flood waters have damaged the bridge over the Licungo River and prevent passage. Due to the heavy and persistent rains, the Licungo River basin is at its highest alert level, and some stations in the Zambeze river basin continue to be above alert levels: Mutarara, Caia and Marromeu. Waters in the Pungue river basin are also above alert levels but declining.
U.S. citizens are recommended to stay abreast with the local news for the latest developments.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mozambique enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Mozambique. For additional information, refer to the Traveler’s Checklist on the State Department’s website.
Contact the U.S. embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy in Maputo is located at 193, Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, and is open 0730-1730 M-Th, 0730-1130 F, Tel: 21-492-797. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance outside of business hours, the emergency after-hours number for the U.S. Embassy is 84-306-6480.
