The state-owned company Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) has transported more than 1,700 passengers since Tuesday (27 January) between the district of Magude, in the south of the country, and the city of Maputo, following the closure of National Road 1 (N1) due to heavy rains affecting the region, according to Lusa.
“Just today, departing from Magude, we are talking about 1,050 people heading to Maputo. From Maputo to Magude, the train initially had 350 passengers, but by arrival, the number had increased to 659,” said Arnaldo Manjate, Director of Railway Operations for CFM in the southern region.
In response to the emergency caused by the floods, the state railway company began transporting people and goods between Maputo and Magude on Tuesday, on the northern side of Maputo Province. A second passenger train with a capacity of 1,500 is scheduled for Thursday, departing from Maputo Central Station at 08:00 and arriving in Magude around 13:00.
For the same route, CFM also plans to send a freight train with a capacity of 1,500 wagons, scheduled to depart at 10:00 on Friday. According to the Director of CFM-South railway operations, 12 trucks carrying various goods are already available for transport, with more expected to arrive in the coming hours.
“These trains are specifically to respond to the emergency and meet the needs of the population. This is an alternative, given that the N1 is cut off due to the floods, and aims to reduce its negative impacts,” emphasized the official.
CFM resumed passenger transport in the south of the country on Monday after a 12-day interruption caused by the floods. In a statement, the company confirmed that passenger services have been restored on the Goba line, as well as the Matola-Gare, Manhiça, and Marracuene connections, integrated into the Ressano Garcia and Limpopo lines, respectively.
President Daniel Chapo assured on Tuesday that road traffic on the N1 will be fully restored within a maximum of two weeks, as it is the country’s main highway.
On the same day, the government estimated the flood-related damage to infrastructure at $644 million and announced a reconstruction plan to address the losses.
The floods of recent weeks have already caused 14 deaths and affected nearly 692,000 people, according to provisional data from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD). INGD data, collected up to 15:30 on Tuesday, also indicates 154,960 homes flooded, 3,447 partially damaged, and 771 completely destroyed.
Since 7 January, there have also been 45 injured, four missing, and families still awaiting rescue, particularly in southern Mozambique. Since the start of the rainy season in October, a total of 137 deaths, 148 injuries, and 812,335 people affected have been recorded.
Currently, 100 shelters are active, housing 94,657 people, while 11 facilities have already been closed. INGD also reports that 229 health units, 353 schools, four bridges, and 1,336 kilometers of roads have been affected since the beginning of the year.
Several countries and international organizations, including the European Union, the United States, Portugal, Norway, Japan, and neighboring Southern African countries, have already announced and sent emergency humanitarian aid to support the national response to the crisis.
Source: Diário Económico
