The persistent rains that continue to lash parts of Inhambane province over the past 24 hours are keeping several river basins in the south of the country on alert. According to the bulletin issued on Monday, 19 January 2026, by the Southern Regional Water Administration (ARA-Sul, IP), water levels are high, particularly in the Save, Govuro, Inhanombe and Mutamba basins.

On the Save river, although it did not rain in Vila Franca do Save, the district of Massangena received 41.1 millimetres of rainfall. That volume helped the river level reach 4.68 metres at the Massangena station — above the alert level, set at 4.50 metres — justifying the close monitoring now under way. In contrast, Vila Franca do Save recorded 4.90 metres, still below the limit of 5.50 metres, although considered high. The trend at this point is a slight fall.

In the Mutamba basin, Jangamo recorded 35.4 millimetres of rain. The water level rose to 3.44 metres, still short of the alert threshold, set at 3.80 metres. In the Govuro basin, the Pambara station recorded 3.94 metres, exceeding the critical level of 3.70 metres, which raises warning signs of possible overflows in riverside areas.

The most worrying situation persists in the Inhanombe basin. In Maxixe, the river stood at 3.74 metres, very close to the alert level (4.00 metres). Meanwhile, in Mubalo, the picture is more critical: 6.13 metres — a value that significantly exceeds the alert level of 4.50 metres. Even so, there has been a slight downward trend in the past few hours.

In the Inharrime basin, the data are reassuring: station E183 shows 2.09 metres — far below the alert level (5.40 metres), pointing to stability.

The National Institute of Meteorology (INAM), for its part, reports heavy rainfall in some districts, particularly in Quissico, with 172.9 millimetres, and Mawayela, with 126.0 millimetres — significant volumes that help explain the constant pressure on the river systems. By contrast, the districts of Vilankulo and Inhassoro recorded no rainfall at all in the past 24 hours.

ARA-Sul reinforces its appeal to residents of riverside and low-lying areas to follow the authorities' warnings closely, avoid crossing watercourses and take preventive measures. The rainy season remains active and the possibility of further episodes of rapidly rising flows is not ruled out.