Floods 'could be worse than 2001'

Floods are spreading to neighbouring countries

Flooding in Mozambique and neighbouring countries could be more damaging than catastrophic floods seven years ago, Mozambique authorities say.

But officials say they don't expect the death toll to be as high as in 2001, when 700 people died.

The government is preparing to evacuate 200,000 people from their homes as rains continue to fall.

Some 70,000 people have been forced from their homes so far and several people have died, the government said.

The National Institute of Natural Disaster Management (INGC) predicted the heavy rains as far back as November and warned communities they were coming.

Struggle to aid flood victims

But flood waters are now spreading to Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia, and more people will have to be evacuated.

The rain is forecast to fall throughout February and could continue into April, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

The INGC told the AFP news agency that a UN announcement that 50 people had died in the flooding was "overestimated".

Torrential rains in Zambia and Zimbabwe have swollen the Zambezi river - Africa's fourth longest - to well above the flood limits.

Valleys in Malawi and Mozambique are bearing the brunt as the waters flow down to the Indian Ocean.