"We can confirm that 10 people have died because of the floods and lightning, as well as a small boat that capsized," said central Sofala provincial governor Alberto Vaquina, who had given a figure of 13 deaths on Tuesday.

But Vaquina added the toll could still rise as provincial authorities have not yet received information and damage reports from all Sofala's districts.

He said Mozambique's second city, the port of Beira, and at least three districts had been heavily affected by the torrential rains in the poor southern African country.

Without giving exact numbers, Vaquina estimated that hundreds of families were left homeless and more than 4,000 hectares (9880 acres) of crops have been destroyed.

"We have also relaunched a provincial emergency committee which will coordinate any help needed in the disaster," he said, adding that the committee will meet with UN officials to "coordinate the aid effort."

In northern Nampula province, Castro Namuaca, president of the municipal council for the provincial capital, also called Nampula, announced Wednesday that three of 12 people taken to hospital had died.

"More than 1,700 homes have been destroyed and around 9,000 people have been left homeless and schools destroyed," Namuaca said.

Two deaths were earlier reported in Nampula province.

The Nampula provincial government had by Wednesday put together some 600 million meticals (around 25,000 dollars) to aid victims.

Mozambican meteorologists said a tropical disturbance affecting Sofala and Nampula province was moving toward the south of the country and had already reached Inhambane province.

The heavy rains in the former Portuguese colony follow a lengthy drought that has left nearly one million people in need of food aid, mostly in the south of the country.

In early 2000 floods caused widespread devastation in Mozambique, where the wet season lasts from November to March.

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