Dodma warns those living in flood prone areas to move uplands
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has warned those living in flood prone areas in districts such as Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe to move uplands.
The warning follows a prediction by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological (MET) Services that there will be heavy downpours in all parts of Malawi this week which is likely to trigger floods in flood prone low lying areas in the south and lakeshore areas.
In a statement released Sunday signed by MET Director Jolamu Nkhokwe, the department warned that the rains will be characterised by vigorous thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds which can cause damages to lives and property.
According to the statement, from December 18 to 25, 2016 most areas across the country are expected to continue receiving more rains due to the combined effects of the establishment of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and an influx of Congo air mass.
“The heavy downpours are likely to trigger floods in flood prone low lying areas, swelling of rivers in upland areas while strong winds can cause damages to infrastructure such as ripping off roofs from buildings while lightning strikes and hail stones might also cause damages to lives and property,” reads the statement in part.
Reacting to the weather report, Dodma Communication officer Jeremiah Mphande said the department is monitoring the situation closely especially in Bangula-Chikwawa and Makhanga in Nsanje which are hot spots for flooding.
“We are cautioning those living in such areas to move uplands to prevent loosing lives and property. We are monitoring the weather closely and are aware of how destructive it can be considering that 13 districts have already been affected by thunderstorms since the beginning of this rainy season,” he said.
Mphande said starting from December 16 this year, Dodma in collaboration with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) started positioning search and rescue teams in Bangula and Makhanga in Nsanje in redness for upcoming disaster.
He said they have also opened an emergency operation centre in Blantyre with trucks, boats and Helicopters stationed there to respond swiftly to disasters.
According to Mphande, the department is also providing relief items to all affected people in the 13 districts.
Mphande said with the finalisation of the National Contingency Plan two weeks ago, different stakeholders will be funded and start responding to disaster according to their expertise.
MET had predicted La Niña weather this rainy season.
La Nina events are generally associated with increased rainfall in southern Africa which include southern and some central areas of Malawi, and rainfall deficiency in equatorial eastern Africa that includes northern and some central areas of Malawi.
