Authorities in flood-hit Mozambique ruled out Thursday further immediate evacuations despite fears that tens of thousands of people along the Zambezi river are at risk from the opening of a giant dam.
"We believe we have evacuated everyone from the risk zones," said Colonel Leonardo Dimas, head of the civil protection forces charged with coordinating the search and rescue mission.
"Having been notified by Zambian authorities of the discharge of 3,000 cubic metres of water from the Kariba Dam, we remain vigilant and ready to act."
The national institute for the management of natural disasters said nearly 100,000 Mozambicans have been moved to safe ground since evacuations began on December 20.
On Monday, Zimbabwe and Zambia opened a sluicegate in their cross-border Kariba Dam, water which was expected to reach Mozambique within about five days.
The institute has estimated that Mozambique's Cahora Bassa Dam, downstream from Kariba, had the capacity to absorb the extra water.
Floods which hit Mozambique and its neighbours in early January have left about ten dead in the country and caused damage estimated at 100 million dollars (68 million euros).
About 250,000 Mozambicans were said to be depending on emergency food aid.
