Mozambique evacuates 20,000 from flood areas

CHUPANGA, Mozambique, Feb 11 (Reuters) Mozambique's military and relief agencies have evacuated more than 20,000 people from their homes in flood areas along the Zambezi river in central Mozambique, relief agency INGC said today.

Some 500,000 people in the impoverished southern African country, mainly in the provinces of Zambezia and Sofala, are at risk from flooding that has killed 29 people and damaged thousands of homes and schools. More rains are expected.

Relief Agency INGC Sofala director Joao Ribeiro said 24,000 people had been taken to transit and accommodation centres as rains in neighbouring Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi poured into the overflowing Cahora Bassa Dam.

''The situation is serious but manageable. We are removing people from all risky areas and if it continues raining in the next few days, we can say it could go beyond our control.'' Joao Jonasse, administrator of the Chupanga region about 1,400 north of the capital Maputo, said the worst was still to come.

''So many houses in Luabo are under water. We are expecting huge numbers in the next days because more waters are being discharged from HCB (Cahora Bassa),'' he said.

Prime Minister Luisa Diogo said on Friday the government may have to call for international help to rescue people threatened by rising water, adding the situation could turn out to be worse than the devastating floods of 2000 and 2001.

Flooding in Mozambique in late 2000 and early 2001 killed over 700 people and displaced half a million others.

REUTERS SY KN1640