London crews to the rescue in Mozambique floods

London firefighters have returned home after a 10‑day mission to Mozambique supporting people hit by the "worst flooding in a generation".

The six volunteers from London were part of a 36‑strong UK International Search and Rescue (ISAR) team, made up of specialist personnel from fire and rescue services around the UK.

During the deployment, the teams rescued more than 80 people from floodwaters and damaged structures.

London Fire Brigade's UK ISAR coordinator, Ian Simpson, said an elderly blind woman and a small child were among the people they saved, which "brought home how important our work out there was".

He added: "I could not be prouder of the team's dedication, resilience, and professionalism, which directly contributed to saving lives and supporting the wider humanitarian response."

The crews also helped transport approximately 2.9 tonnes of humanitarian aid and assisted with operations carried out by helicopter.

As many as 852,000 people have been "affected or displaced" after weeks of heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding across the southern African nation.

The disaster has damaged homes and infrastructure, as well as killing more than 200 people according to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD).

Neighbourhoods were plunged into darkness as power lines snapped, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off.

Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the teams deployed with four rescue boats, drones and specialist equipment, enabling them to clear debris, assess affected areas from the air and carry out search and rescue work.

Men, women and children were rescued, including people who had been stranded in floodwater for several days.

Teams also delivered vital supplies such as water and food to isolated communities cut off for up to a week.

Firefighter Sarah Mimnagh, who was deployed to Maputo, 180 miles south of Xai Xai, said many of those affected were children and that hundreds of people had been trapped by rising floodwaters.

She said her team had mainly worked on complex flood rescues, supported medical evacuations to hospitals, and helped move doctors and healthcare facilities to those who were stranded.

Mimnagh said: "We faced significant challenges, but everyone worked incredibly hard to try and make a difference to the people who really needed it.

"Seeing that amount of devastation and damage has been a very humbling experience."

UK Minister for Development Jenny Chapman said: "When I met the UK ISAR team in Mozambique, I was really impressed by their professionalism and commitment.

"I heard how they had rescued dozens of people, used drones to scout out otherwise unreachable areas and made sure life-saving provisions got to those cut off by the floods.

"The work they do is genuinely amazing and I'm proud that we could support it."

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