By Anietie Anii-Bassey
Severe flooding in Mozambique has brought a new and deadly threat to affected communities: crocodiles, which have appeared in submerged towns and have already claimed at least three lives.
In the town of Xai-Xai, the provincial capital of Gaza province and one of the hardest-hit areas in southern Mozambique, authorities have issued urgent warnings to residents about the heightened risk posed by the reptiles as floodwaters continue to rise and evacuations to higher ground are underway.
Torrential rains and widespread flooding across southern Africa over the past month have killed more than 100 people across Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
The floods have destroyed thousands of homes and damaged critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and health facilities, leaving communities struggling to access basic services and supplies.
In Mozambique alone, 13 deaths have been reported from the floods, with three of them directly attributed to crocodile attacks. Paola Emerson, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Mozambique, described the situation as alarming.
“The river levels are rising and are reaching urban areas or heavily populated areas,” Emerson said following a visit to Xai-Xai. “So the crocodiles that are in the Limpopo river in this case are able to get into populated areas that are now submerged under water, and that is the concern.”
The Limpopo River, which flows from South Africa through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean, has been the main conduit for the crocodiles, which appear to have been carried downstream by the rising waters. Earlier this month, two people were killed in a crocodile attack in Gaza province, leaving three others injured. In Moamba, a small town in Maputo province, a man was reportedly “swallowed” by a crocodile, according to Henriques Bongece, secretary of the province.
Authorities said the reptiles may have been driven into populated areas by floodwaters originating from a wildlife park in neighboring South Africa. “We want to urge everyone not to approach still waters because crocodiles are drifting in these waters. The rivers have connected with all areas where there is water,” Bongece said.
Beyond the immediate danger posed by wildlife, the floods have triggered a growing humanitarian crisis. Weeks of relentless rainfall, compounded by dam releases designed to prevent structural failure, have affected more than 700,000 people in Mozambique alone, with more than half of them children.
Vast areas of farmland have been destroyed, leaving communities without food and undermining local livelihoods. Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program and UNICEF, have described the situation as “catastrophic,” warning of widespread hunger and food insecurity.
Health services are also under severe strain. The World Health Organization reported that at least 44 health facilities in Gaza and Maputo provinces have been destroyed or heavily damaged, leaving tens of thousands without access to medical care.
Displaced residents living in temporary shelters face limited or nonexistent health services, and those on long-term medication are at risk of life-threatening interruptions. The WHO stressed that urgent measures are needed to restore essential services, deploy mobile health teams, and ensure continuity of care for people with chronic conditions.
The broader region faces compounding challenges as well. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, floods have displaced thousands of residents and disrupted food supplies, while the combination of standing water, damaged sanitation systems, and overcrowded shelters has increased the risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that the region could experience outbreaks if rapid action is not taken to provide clean water, food, and medical support.
Officials are urging communities to exercise extreme caution, particularly near rivers, lakes, and other standing water, where crocodiles and other hazards may now be present.
“The combination of rising waters, displaced wildlife, and damaged infrastructure makes this one of the most dangerous flood events in recent history,” Emerson said.
As Mozambique and its neighbors contend with the immediate impacts of the floods, the ongoing humanitarian emergency underscores the vulnerability of millions of people to climate-driven disasters, as well as the urgent need for coordinated international support to prevent further loss of life and stabilize affected communities.