Traffic on National Road Number 1 (N1), the main route connecting the south and north of the country, was restored on Sunday (8) after urgent repairs to a crater in the southern province of Gaza, according to Lusa.
The interruption occurred on Saturday night, following an undermining problem detected in the Nguluzane riverbed in the city of Xai-Xai, which compromised the integrity of the pavement over a length of about seven meters and across the entire width of the road, completely preventing vehicle traffic.
The National Roads Administration (ANE) said in a statement that it will continue to monitor the affected section and other critical points on the N1, warning that, whenever necessary, it may implement alternating traffic or interrupt traffic to safeguard the safety of people and property.
“We have reopened the road to traffic, but we remain vigilant because there are areas that have not been repaired during this emergency. Although they appear to be in good condition, the passage of vehicles, especially heavy ones, could further weaken the underlying soil,” Jeremias Mazoio, ANE delegate in Gaza, told the media.
Since the beginning of the current rainy season in October, and particularly after the floods in January, the country has recorded 191 deaths, 291 injuries, and 845,144 people affected, according to official data from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD). On January 16, the government declared a nationwide red alert.
Currently, 77 accommodation centers are active, housing 78,407 displaced people. Since January 7, 229 health facilities, 323 schools, 14 bridges, and 3,783 kilometers of roads have been damaged.
In the agricultural sector, 440,906 hectares have been damaged, of which 275,405 have been declared lost, affecting 314,783 producers. Losses in livestock have also been reported, with the death of 412,446 head of cattle.
Several countries and international organizations, including the European Union, the United States, Portugal, Angola, Spain, East Timor, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, China, France, Germany, and neighboring nations, have already announced and sent emergency humanitarian aid.
