Life is tending to return to normal in the town of Machanga, in Sofala, as the water levels of the Save River have fallen, and search and rescue operations have already been halted.

In Vila Franca do Save, for example, the river's water level yesterday morning stood at 4.84 meters, which is below the alert level set at 5.50 meters.

Those affected were returning, albeit timidly, from their temporary shelters to their areas of origin, with the help of members of the Local Disaster Risk Management Committees, who were assessing the condition of the houses.

The administrator of the Machanga district, Natália Chivambo, told the newspaper Notícias that, three days after the event, the population is trying to recover what was destroyed by the waters.

The health center in the main town, the largest in the district, was still surrounded by water, and patients are seen in the building of the Machanga Registry and Notary Office. The latter services work in another location to deal with urgent situations, such as the recognition of urgent documents, while in the town of Marropanhe the salt pans were completely submerged.