Maputo — Heavy rains are continuing in parts of northern and central Mozambique, and the National Water Board (DNA) has issued flood warnings for the Licungo river, in Zambezia province, the Meluli and the Monapo, in Nampula, and the Revubue, a tributary of the Zambezi in Tete province.

The DNA notes that the situation in these river valleys is worsened by the fact that the soil is already saturated. It is advising local residents to keep away from the river banks and low-lying areas.

Torrential rains continued to fall in the Meluli and Monapo basins on Sunday and Monday. A bridge over the Terrene river, a tributary of the Monapo, was swept away by the waters.

The level of the Licungo has fallen slightly - but at Mocuba, the second largest town in Zambezia, the river remains above the flood alert level of six metres. On Sunday evening the river was measured at 6.2 metres, and on Monday morning at 6.15 metres.

More rain is forecast, and so there are fears that there could be serious flooding on the Licungo.