By James Kunda
LUSAKA (AA) - More than 200 people have died from floods in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Madagascar, as rains intensify due to the La Nina weather phenomenon across the region.
In Mozambique, the National Institute for Disaster Management, said 103 deaths had been recorded since late last year, with the World Food Programme (WFP) saying more than 200,000 people had been affected in central and southern parts.
The WFP said thousands of homes had also been damaged, with tens of thousands of people facing evacuation, and 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) of crop submerged threatening food insecurity.
President Daniel Chapo on Friday visited areas affected, saying "as government, we are making all efforts to take our people to safe zones."
In South Africa, officials said flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces had killed at least 30 people, with 600 tourists and staff evacuated from flood-affected camps in the Kruger National Park.
Reynold Thakhuli, a park spokesman, however, did not say how many people were in the famous reserve, while the national parks agency said it had been closed to visitors.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Limpopo had received 400 mm (16 inches) of rain in less than of rain in less than a week, with 36 houses wiped away in a single district.
The South African army used helicopters to pluck people to safety as they took refuge on rooftops and trees.
In Zimbabwe, the government's disaster management agency reported at least 70 deaths since the beginning of the year, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed and schools, roads and bridges collapsed.
Authorities in the Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar also reported 11 deaths to floods since late November.
Zambia and Malawi have also reported severe infrastructure damage to floods, with losses also reported to crops and livestock.