Areas near the Umbeuzi, Maputo, and Incomati rivers may suffer flooding starting next October, when the rainy season begins in the country, according to the National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH).

According to the head of the Department of Watersheds, Agostinho Vilanculos, the forecasts demand some concern, so it is necessary to take precautions "depending on how things are going to evolve in the first 15 days of October, the official start of the rainy season.

At issue is the increase in water levels in the main retention infrastructures in Maputo, especially the Pequenos Limbombos and Kurumane dams, which are currently at 80% storage levels.

The official mentioned that the river levels will increase due to the beginning of the rainy season, which will require the opening of the floodgates to relieve the pressure.

DNGRH calls on populations living in areas near these rivers to make decisions to prevent the impact of possible flooding.

As of next Saturday, October 1st, the Hydroelectric of Cahora Bassa (HCB) will begin to perform discharges to relieve the pressure due to the beginning of the rainy season in the country.

The water that we will receive "[must] find space in the reservoir to be accommodated so as not to generate flooding downstream," said the HCB Director of Water Resources and Environment, quoted by Lusa.

Between the months of November and April, Mozambique is cyclically hit by cyclonic winds from the Indian Ocean and flooding from the southern African basins.

The natural disasters that struck Mozambique during the last rainy season caused a total of 142 deaths, affecting about one million people, according to figures released in August by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction.