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Catastrophic floods caused by torrential rains have forced thousands to flee their homes in Mozambique, with many residents trapped on rooftops amid rising waters, according to aid organisations and witnesses.

More than 620,000 people have been directly impacted by the devastating floods, which have destroyed more than 72,000 homes and severely damaged essential infrastructure including roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is providing emergency aid.

“Rains are still expected to continue for the coming days, and the water dams are already at full capacity, so the situation could worsen, placing further people at risk,” IFRC Program and Operations Manager Rachel Fowler told the news agency Reuters from the capital Maputo.

Red Cross volunteers are using small fishing boats in rescue attempts, but access is increasingly challenging, Fowler added. South Africa has deployed an air force helicopter to assist with rescue operations.

Reporting from Manhica district in Maputo province in southern Mozambique, Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa said residents rescued by the helicopter were being offered medical assistance, food and temporary shelter.

Celeste Maria, a 25-year-old hospital worker, told Reuters her family fled their home in Chokwe in southern Gaza province after authorities issued flood warnings last week.

“Our home is now completely submerged … We left behind neighbours who are now telling us they are sheltering on rooftops as the water continues to rise,” she explained by phone from a resettlement centre.

Aerial images showed expansive flooded areas with only treetops visible above the water.

Officials have not yet released casualty figures from the latest flooding.

Mozambique has experienced repeated weather-related disasters that scientists link to climate change.

Heavy rainfall has also affected parts of South Africa, including the northeast, site of the famous Kruger National Park.

Flood damage to Kruger National Park will require years to repair at a cost of millions of dollars, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp said in a statement on Thursday.

South African authorities temporarily closed the park last week after several rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall. The park is a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

Fifteen tourist camps remain closed, with some completely inaccessible, Aucamp said. Hundreds were evacuated with no loss of life.

While assessment continues, repair costs are estimated to exceed 500 million rand ($30m).

“The recent floods that we’ve experienced have had a devastating effect on the park,” Aucamp told Reuters. “The indication is that it will take as long as five years to repair all the bridges and roads and other infrastructure.”

Doha, Qatar – The ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026) has opened in Qatar’s capital, bringing together leading security and defence companies from around the world.

Held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, this week’s event showcases the manufacturers’ latest technologies, including advanced systems related to naval shipbuilding, counterpiracy and communications, among others.

Countries represented at DIMDEX include Turkiye, the United States, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and France, with a number of contracts, memoranda of understanding and strategic agreements signed by the end of the first day on Monday.

One of the centrepieces of DIMDEX is the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), which brings together military and government officials and defence industry leaders. This year’s focus is on defence diplomacy and challenges to maritime security.

The exhibition takes place against a tense regional backdrop.

In June of last year, Iran launched a missile attack at a military base hosting US troops in Qatar in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, raising fears of a wider confrontation and underscoring the vulnerability of Gulf states that host foreign forces.

While there were no casualties, the exchange reinforced longstanding concerns in the region that any escalation between the US and Iran could quickly spill over into nearby countries and critical maritime routes.

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At least 39 people have been confirmed dead in a high-speed train collision in the south of Spain, according to police, and rescue efforts are continuing.

The crash occurred on Sunday when the rear of a train carrying about 300 passengers from Malaga to the capital, Madrid, came off the rails about 7:45pm (18:45 GMT) . It then slammed into an oncoming train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, another city in southern Spain, according to rail operator Adif.

The collision took place near Adamuz, a town in the province of Cordoba, about 370km (230 miles) south of Madrid.

Spanish police said 152 people were injured, five of whom were in a critical condition. A further 24 were in a serious condition, authorities said. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the death toll was not final.

In Adamuz, a sports centre was turned into a makeshift hospital, and the Spanish Red Cross set up a help centre offering assistance to emergency services and people seeking information. Members of Spain’s Civil Guard and civil defence worked at the site throughout the night.

Puente said early on Monday that the cause of the crash was unknown.

According to Puente, the rear section of the first train derailed and crashed into the front of the other train, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a 4-metre (13ft) slope.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to the victims’ families.

Spain has the largest rail network in Europe for trains travelling at more than 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per hour), with more than 3,100km (1,900 miles) of track, according to the European Union.

The network is a popular, competitively priced and safe mode of transport. Renfe said more than 25 million passengers took one of its high-speed trains in 2024.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions on Sunday, as raging wildfires forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate and killed at least 18 people.

According to Chile’s forestry agency CONAF, firefighters were battling 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning, with the largest in the regions of Nuble and Biobio, where the government declared the emergency. The regions lie about 500km (310 miles) south of the capital, Santiago.

“In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Ñuble and Biobío. All resources are available,” Boric said in a post on X.

Fires have consumed nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) in the two regions so far, threatening multiple communities and prompting the authorities to issue evacuation orders.

Officials say adverse conditions, including strong winds and high temperatures, have helped the wildfires spread and made it harder for firefighters to bring them under control. Much of Chile was under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 38C (100F) from Santiago to Biobio on Sunday and Monday.

Wildfires have severely affected south-central Chile in recent years amid growing evidence of the impact of climate change in the South American country, including extreme weather, droughts and floods.

In February 2024, several fires broke out simultaneously near the city of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, resulting in 138 deaths, according to the public prosecutor’s office.