 Before Eline struck Mozambique , the worst floods since 1951 had affected the nation since January , killing about 150 people . The additional rainfall and flooding from Eline created the country 's worst natural disaster in a century . The combined effects destroyed over 250 @,@ 000 ha ( 620 @,@ 000 acres ) of crop fields and killed 40 @,@ 000 cattle . Eline 's passage disrupted ongoing relief efforts , with the port in Beira blocked for two weeks due to five sunken ships . High levels along the Limpopo River isolated the town of Xai @-@ Xai , with water levels along the river reaching as high as 11 m ( 36 ft ) above normal in some areas , as well as 15 km ( 9 @.@ 3 mi ) wide . A dam broke along the river , flooding the town of Chokwe in the middle of the night and trapping several unprepared residents . About 55 people drowned in Sofala Province after rescue helicopters arrived too late to save them . Around 20 @,@ 000 people in the capital city of Maputo lost their homes . In addition to the floods , strong winds blew away many roofs and some entire houses made of mud . The combined effects of the preceding floods and Eline left about 300 @,@ 000 people homeless , about 700 deaths , and damage estimated at $ 500 million ( 2000 USD ) . The cyclone and the floods disrupted much of the economic progress Mozambique had made in the 1990s since the end of its civil war . 
