Death toll in Mozambique floods rises to 117

The death toll from flooding in parts of Mozambique has risen to 117, with more than 157,000 people affected, official figures showed today.
The deaths in the centre and north of the southern African nation were caused by "drowning, lightning strikes, or construction collapses caused by the floods," Rita Almeida of the Mozambican relief agency INGC told AFP.
"The situation is stable, as we did not record any new recurrences of flooding in the past days. It is still raining, but with much less intensity and without significant impact," she said.
More than 50,000 people remain in 41 relief centres across the country and destroyed roads and bridges have hampered relief efforts.

UN spokesman Pasquale Capizzi told AFP: "We can't say that the situation is completely under control as we don't have a complete picture yet.
"However some humanitarian assistance stocks are already there and the rest is currently being shipped," he said.
"Seeds will also be distributed as most people have lost their crops."
Eighty percent of Mozambique's population depends on agriculture, which represents 25 percent of GDP.