Washington, DC — Hard rains continue to fall as Mozambique's government urges the more than 80,000 people in the towns of Marromeu and Luabo downstream from the rapidly filling Cahorra Bassa dam to move to highland areas. Dam engineers have already doubled the amount of water released from the dangerously full dam. More water may have to be released over the next few days.

Meanwhile, further upstream at the Kariba dam shared by Mozambique neighbors Zimbabwe and Zambia, floodgates have also been opened causing a torrent of floodwater to rush into the Zambezi threatening Mozambique's northwestern city of Tete, the largest population center on the river. "We sympathize with our Mozambican counterpart," the Times of Zambia newspaper reported Zambia's Deputy Minister of Energy saying, "but the danger is that if the water is not discharged from the dam, we fear that the damage to be done to the dam might result in ... lots of disasters."

More heavy downpours are forecast for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi as well as Mozambique.

An official at USAID described the government as "very concerned" but quickly added that they were "very well on top of the situation." US$125,000 has been sent to the embassy in Mozambique as a contribution for "logistical support," mainly the cost of leasing South African based helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. "We are very concerned that the problems of last year not be repeated," the official said. During last year's devastating floods in Mozambique and Southern Africa the United States was sharply criticized for responding late and inadequately.

Both the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey have been told by USAID that there may be sudden requests for rainfall forecasts and analysis of river flows. "We haven't been officially put on alert," a USGS official said, "but we are expected to be prepared."