The company Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) estimates that 18,500 consumers have been left without electricity due to the floods that have severely hit the southern part of the country, also affecting the power infrastructure.

EDM spokesman Luís Amado explained to "Carta" that these consumers were affected following the interruption of three main lines at the Boane substation, namely Boane - Changalane, Boane - Makanda and Boane - Mazambanine due to falling poles, the disconnection of some transformer stations for safety reasons and the breakdown of three transformers in Machava and Boane.

In the city of Maputo, Amado explained that due to the floods, EDM interrupted nine Transformer Stations (PTs) in some neighborhoods: two in the Magoanine neighborhood, affecting 500 customers; two in the Luís Cabral and Maxaquene neighborhoods, affecting 400 customers in each neighborhood; and three PTs on the Costa do Sol, affecting 650 families in the Mapulene and Mahotas areas.

Because of the damage caused, the source said that EDM had accounted for just over 16.6 million Meticais by last Tuesday (14).

"Currently, several teams made up of more than 100 technicians, equipped with two cranes, a boat and 13 vehicles are on the ground, with a view to restoring the system as soon as safety conditions allow," said the EDM spokesman, quoted by "Carta".

Amado stressed that the supply to the Umbeluzi Water Treatment Plant has already been restored, after being interrupted on February 11. "The Boane-Makanda line is expected to be connected today. The Boane - Changalane line will be missing, because the Boane drift still has a lot of current and we can't get into it," he said.

As a result of the restoration work, EDM's spokesman pointed out that, as of Tuesday, the company had already restored the power supply to 6,000 customers, while 12,500 families were still in the dark.

The heavy rains that fell in the greater Maputo area a week ago, combined with discharges from the Pequenos Libombos Dam, as well as others located in neighboring South Africa and the Kingdom of E-swatine, caused flooding, with the district of Boane, in Maputo province, being one of the worst affected.

Official figures show that, as of February 15, seven deaths have been recorded, 39,000 people have been affected and more than 7,800 homes have been flooded. (Letter)