Families Rescued by Boat as Severe Flooding Leaves Communities Stranded in Mozambique

MAPUTO (Jan. 19, 2026) – Thousands of children are at risk from severe floods in southern Mozambique, which have damaged homes and submerged roads. Save the Children is using boats to relocate some of the families who are most at risk and scores of people stranded in inaccessible areas.

Over 100 people have been killed in the disaster, with local media reporting at least two children amongst those who have drowned. The National Institute for Disaster Management said about 432,000 people have been affected in Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala and Zambezia, with nearly 30,000 houses partially damaged or destroyed [1].

Save the Children is assisting by relocating families via boat from low-lying areas to temporary accommodation centers, where they are receiving emergency assistance. Needs are far surpassing resources, however, with some displacement centers housing both people and livestock, creating health and hygiene risks for children.

The situation is particularly critical in Gaza Province, where for the first time in nearly 50 years, all 14 floodgates of the Massingir Dam have opened, releasing up to 55,000 feet of water per second. This has caused the Limpopo River to overflow, submerging the town of Chókwè and much of Guijá district, and displacing thousands.

According to the government, approximately 200 miles of roads have been damaged, along with 18 health facilities. In addition, an estimated 27,000 heads of livestock – essential for family incomes – have been lost, according to the UN.

Mass evacuations are ongoing, with people still stranded in inaccessible areas, and several river basins on high alert.

Since mid-December 2025, exceptionally heavy rainfall in Mozambique and upstream countries has filled major reservoirs to capacity, forcing unprecedented water release into already swollen rivers. Last week the Government of Mozambique declared a National Red Alert, warning that the situation may worsen in the coming days as rainfall continues and river levels rise further.

Ilaria Manunza, Country Director of Save the Children in Mozambique, said:

“The floods are unfolding amid a wider humanitarian emergency, pushing already exhausted communities further into crisis. With continued heavy rains forecast and response capacity severely strained, families are being displaced, children are at extreme risk, and urgent support is needed now.

“Resources are critically limited. Children are once again paying the highest price of Mozambique’s climate crisis, with homes, schools and livelihoods underwater. Without immediate international support, this emergency will escalate further.”

Working closely with humanitarian partners and the government, Save the Children is planning to expand its response.

Save the Children has worked in Mozambique since 1986, responding to major emergencies, including floods, cyclones, droughts and conflict-driven displacement It also runs programs in child protection, education, health and nutrition, sanitation and food security, with a commitment to strengthening local leadership through partnerships.

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[1] Relief Web