Torrential rains and widespread flooding have killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, with authorities warning that further severe weather is expected in several countries in the coming days.
South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been among the worst affected, as rivers burst their banks, homes collapse and key infrastructure is washed away following weeks of unusually heavy rainfall.
In South Africa, at least 19 people have died in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga since heavy rains began last month. Flooding has forced the closure of large parts of Kruger National Park, where tourists and staff were evacuated by helicopter after roads and bridges were washed away, according to media reports.
Mozambique has recorded the highest death toll, with authorities saying 103 people have died since late last year during what has been described as an unusually severe rainy season. Causes of death include drowning, lightning strikes, collapsing infrastructure and outbreaks of disease such as cholera linked to flooding.
The worst flooding in Mozambique has been concentrated in the central and southern regions, where more than 200,000 people have been affected. Thousands of homes have been damaged and tens of thousands of residents face possible evacuation as floodwaters continue to rise.
In Zimbabwe, disaster officials said 70 people have died since the beginning of the year, while more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed. Schools, roads and bridges have also collapsed, leaving some communities cut off.
Flooding has also been reported in Madagascar, Malawi and Zambia. Authorities in Madagascar said at least 11 people have died in floods since late November, as heavy rains continue to batter the island nation.
Weather and humanitarian agencies have warned that flooding is reported or expected in at least seven southern African countries, possibly linked to the La Niña weather pattern, which can bring heavier than normal rainfall to parts of southeastern Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood hit areas in Limpopo province on Thursday, saying some communities had received around 400 millimetres of rain in less than a week. He described entire neighbourhoods being wiped out, with houses completely destroyed.
The South African Weather Service has issued a red level 10 alert for parts of the country, warning of further heavy rain that could threaten lives and cause extensive damage to infrastructure.
Emergency services and the army have deployed helicopters to rescue people trapped on rooftops and in trees, while border officials and police were also rescued from flooded checkpoints near the Zimbabwe border.
Southern Africa has faced a growing number of extreme weather events in recent years, including powerful cyclones and prolonged droughts that triggered food crises. Current flooding has already damaged tens of thousands of hectares of crops in Mozambique, worsening food insecurity for vulnerable farming communities.