Severe electrical storms have claimed seven lives in Mozambique’s central Sofala Province, with all fatalities caused by lightning strikes, according to the INGD (National Disaster Management Institute), on 31 December 2025. The storms affected 342 households, destroying around 100 poorly constructed homes and damaging 50 classrooms.
The impact extended beyond Sofala, with torrential rains in neighbouring Tete province forcing about 200 households in Mutarara district to flee their homes. Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas along the Zambezi, Shire and Ngoma rivers to relocate to higher ground as water levels continue to rise.
In response, INGD has activated emergency operations centres and intensified public warnings through community radio and other media platforms. Meanwhile, the National Meteorology Institute (INAM) has forecast continued heavy rainfall in central and northern provinces over the coming days, with parts of Niassa, Nampula and Cabo Delgado expected to receive more than 75 millimetres of rain within 24 hours. Residents have been advised to take precautionary measures, particularly in areas at high risk of flooding.