Korean drone program aids Mozambique in avoiding flood deaths
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In January, a team of drone pilots in Mozambique successfully used new technology to help their community survive the worst flooding the region had seen in decades without any loss of life.
The African Development Bank’s South Korea. Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund initiated the Drone-Based Disaster Management Project in April 2025, training 30 experts in drone operation and data analysis.
The program equipped specialists from meteorology, road mapping, water management, and disaster response agencies with skills in using drones with LiDAR instruments to gather real-time information during emergencies. When the Incomáti River flooded Marracuene, a district north of the capital, the team put their training into practice, locating families, mapping damaged roads, and providing rescue teams with critical imagery.
Kátia Manjate, one of the newly trained pilots, explained she gained expertise “from data collection all the way to the final product,” allowing the team to assess flood depths and guide rescuers through submerged areas. Following the successful response, 10 of the 30 pilots received licenses to train additional drone operators, and local officials anticipate the technology will improve emergency responses beyond this specific event.
