Mozambique floods claim nine lives

At least nine people have been killed and more than 25,000 people displaced by floods in central Mozambique and the situation is expected to worsen if rains continue.

A tropical storm between January 23 and 25 dumped 119 millimeters of rain on the coast of the Zambezia province in 24 hours.

The new flooding has killed at least six people in Zambezia, though another two missing people also are thought to be dead. Three people were reported dead in the neighbouring Sofala province.

"Any fall of 100 millimeters or more of rain within a day is a cause for concern anywhere in the world," Silvano Langa, director of the National Disasters Management Institute said.

Mozambique is still recovering from devastating floods a year ago that killed 700 people and caused widespread damage.

The new rains destroyed houses built of flimsy materials, blocked many roads and washed away small bridges.

Mozambique has asked the South African air force to provide a cargo plane to ensure the speedy transport of further relief supplies to Zambezia's provincial capital of Quelimane, which was inundated with water.