Mozambique has activated drone-based technology to support search, rescue, and damage assessment efforts following severe flooding that affected large parts of the country in January. The initiative is supported by the African Development Bank and financed through the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund, in collaboration with national authorities and technical partners.
Between 9 and 26 January 2026, floods affected 692,522 people, caused 12 fatalities, and damaged approximately 1,336 kilometres of road infrastructure, according to official figures. The scale of disruption also led authorities to postpone the start of the school year until 27 February.
Equipped with high-resolution cameras and supported by artificial intelligence tools, the drones are being used to capture real-time imagery, identify stranded residents, map damaged infrastructure, and transmit live video feeds to emergency coordination centres. The data is converted into digital maps to support rescue planning and ongoing monitoring in high-risk areas.
The drone deployments form part of the Drone-Based Disaster Management Project, launched in April 2025 by the African Development Bank Group, the Government of Mozambique, and Busan Technopark. Although emergency operations under the project were originally planned to begin in March 2026, the government requested early activation in response to the floods.
Operations have focused on Gaza Province, including districts such as Chókwè and Guijá, where flooding has cut off access routes and left communities isolated. Xai-Xai, the provincial capital, has been largely inundated, complicating ground-based response efforts.
“This initiative represents a pivotal moment in our national strategy as we develop a skilled national workforce capable of leading disaster response with confidence and autonomy,” said Américo Muchanga, Minister of Communications and Digital Transformation.
Rômulo Corrêa, the Bank’s Resident Representative in Mozambique, noted: “Our priority is to ensure that emergency teams have the tools and information they need to reach people quickly and save lives.”
The project includes the donation of nine drones and the training of 20 Mozambican personnel, who are carrying out missions alongside Korean experts, strengthening national capacity for future climate-related emergencies.
