The president of Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM), Agostinho Langa, announced the resumption of train services on the Limpopo Line, which was severely affected by January floods that hit mainly the southern region of the country.
“Two weeks ago, when we were here, we promised that on May 1 we would be here to celebrate with you, and today, on the 1st, you have given us a gift by having the line ready for train operations,” said Agostinho Langa during the International Workers’ Day celebrations in Gaza province.
The official pledged not to forget each of the workers who contributed to restoring operations on the line, stating that they “did wonders here on this line.”
On April 20, CFM reported losses of $12 million due to the suspension of train operations on the Limpopo Line and had forecast the resumption of services for this Friday.
The line was severely damaged by floods and inundations that mainly affected southern Mozambique in January, prompting rehabilitation works estimated at up to $25 million, according to Agostinho Langa at the time.
Mozambique Ports and Railways has recorded total losses of $47 million, resulting from untransported cargo and damage to infrastructure and equipment caused by the floods, the company said.
According to the statement, the company estimates losses of around $47 million up to April 17, of which $12.75 million correspond to revenue losses from untransported cargo and $25 million to repair and infrastructure replacement costs.
Mozambique is considered one of the countries most severely affected by climate change in the world, repeatedly facing floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.
The death toll in the current rainy season has risen to 311, with 1.7 million people affected since last October, according to the latest update from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD).
Source: Lusa
