Heavy rain inundates north-eastern South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique

Large areas of north-eastern South Africa and neighbouring Mozambique have been inundated for several days by exceptionally heavy rainfall, authorities and reports said. Some locations in South Africa recorded hundreds of millimetres over the weekend, with Graskop in Mpumalanga receiving 113mm in 24 hours and Phalaborwa recording about 85mm.

The deluge has been driven by a slow-moving cut-off low pressure system that has remained anchored over the region, repeatedly drawing in moisture and triggering intense downpours. Rain has continued since the weekend and further heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and over the weekend.

The rain fell on already saturated ground after an unusually wet December, overwhelming river systems and prompting the South African weather service to raise its flood warning to the highest level. Roads have been washed away, infrastructure damaged and large areas rendered inaccessible.

Kruger national park has been closed, with staff and visitors evacuated; emergency services have rescued residents trapped by rapidly rising rivers. Since October 2025, parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga have received about twice their average annual rainfall, and the prolonged wet weather is disrupting the harvesting and export of mangoes and lemons.

Key Topics

World, Flooding, South Africa, Mozambique, Mpumalanga, Kruger National Park