Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
24-01-2026
What happened, where and when?
Zimbabwe is facing a severe and evolving flood emergency for this 2025/26 rainfall season following persistent heavy rains and storm events across the country over the past weeks. From the 13th to the 24th of January 2026, Zimbabwe received a lot of rains causing dam spillages, riverine overflow, and flash flooding across multiple areas. The situation, which began in early January, worsened with additional flooding in late January, leading to the request for support from the Department of Civil Protection to the Zimbabwe Red Cross to provide life-saving relief assistance to the affected families.
As of 24 January 2026, at least 109 people have been confirmed dead due to rainfall-related incidents, including drowning, people being swept away by floodwaters, and lightning strikes, while at least 61 people have sustained injuries. Nationwide, an estimated 8,295 households (41,475 people) have been affected, with many families displaced and in urgent need of shelter and basic assistance. Several communities remain isolated due to damaged infrastructure, with multiple marooning incidents reported as floodwaters cut off access routes.
Hydrological conditions remain extremely concerning. According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), several major dams are full or over-spilling, including Tugwi Mukosi, Manjirenji, Manyuchi, and Bubi-Lupane dams, significantly increasing downstream flood risk. Controlled and uncontrolled spillages have already resulted in river flooding, marooning of communities, damage to agricultural land, and destruction of bridges and irrigation infrastructure. Dam spillages, combined with saturated soils and damaged road networks, continue to isolate communities, restrict humanitarian access, and further disrupt access to social services, particularly for learners who cross rivers or travel long distances to reach schools. With continued rainfall forecast, the situation is likely to deteriorate, underscoring the urgent need for road rehabilitation, protection of education infrastructure, strengthened early warning systems, and anticipatory actions to reduce further loss of life and livelihoods.