Severe flooding has damaged bridges over the Halo River and forced an indefinite suspension of rail traffic

Flooding in Angola has shut down the Lobito Railway Corridor, a route for mineral exports from central Africa to global markets, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing operator Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR).

The Lobito Corridor is a strategic rail network linking Angola's Atlantic port of Lobito with mineral-rich regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The corridor has been partly operational since 2022, with existing rail infrastructure in Angola already in use, while additional cross-border links are still under development. It is designed to provide an export route for copper and cobalt used in global industries.

Heavy rains submerged bridges over the Halo River between the Cubal and Caimbambo stations, as well as a bridge over the Cavaco River near Benguela, the company said.

"As a result, rail traffic on the affected sections is suspended indefinitely," LAR said, as quoted by Reuters. No timeline for repairs has yet been announced.

The downpours began in early April and intensified around April 4-6, when storms triggered widespread flooding in western Angola, particularly in the coastal provinces of Luanda and Benguela.

Flooding has also caused a humanitarian crisis. At least 39 people have died in Luanda and Benguela provinces, and more than 51,000 people have been affected, according to emergency services cited by BBC. 

A road bridge pillar collapse on the Halo River has also disrupted transport between Benguela and Huambo.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco is expected to travel to Benguela province to assess the situation on the ground following the recent flooding, according to a statement from the presidency. 

Rainfall that began in late 2025 has resulted in widespread flooding across parts of southern Africa, overwhelming drainage systems and causing rivers and dams to surge beyond capacity. In South Africa, prolonged downpours have inundated Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, killing at least 30 people. 

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Zimbabwe has also experienced extensive flooding, with at least 70 deaths, 51 injuries, and more than 1,000 homes destroyed since early January.