Maputo — Heavy rains and flooding on the Pungue river are threatening to cut the main road between the central Mozambican port of Beira and Zimbabwe.

As is frequently the case in the Mozambican rainy season, it is the low-lying stretch of road between Mutua and Tica, in Sofala province, which presents the greatest difficulties. Although this stretch of road was recently rehabilitated, and the drainage conditions are much better than in the past, large potholes have opened, which can be difficult to spot in the driving rain.

At least one large truck has come to grief on the road, and on Monday was lying on its side. According to a report in Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", the National Roads Administration (ANE) is closely monitoring the situation. Although the rain water covers much of the road, traffic has not yet been interrupted.

The situation could become much more serious if the Pungue continues to rise. Measured on Monday morning at Mafambisse, the Pungue stood at 7.8 metres, massively above flood alert level of six metres. If the river rises by another 20 centimetres, it will sweep across the Beira-Zimbabwe road along a stretch of five kilometres. This would not necessarily halt traffic, but it would make the journey hazardous.

However, the National Water Board (DNA) believes that the flood on the Pungue may now begin to subside, with the slackening of rainfall further upstream.

On Monday, Joao Ribeiro, the general director of the country's relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), overflew the Pungue valley, to monitor the situation. He was accompanied by Leonardo Dimas, commander of the National Civil Protection Unit (UNAPROC).

Further north, the Zambezi river remains above flood alert level at Caia and Morromeu, on its lower stretches. But the DNA reports the river's level as "stationary"

The Cahora Bassa dam has reduced its discharges into the Zambezi from 2,800 to 2,000 cubic metres a second, in order to carry out maintenance work on the flood gates.

Other major rivers are expected to rise, with the continuing rains in much of the country, but none present any imminent threat of flooding.