Heavy rains cause havoc in Blantyre
Heavy rains that fell in some parts of the Southern Region on Sunday damaged infrastructure, including roads, houses and other property.
In Blantyre, the heavy rains damaged houses, particularly in Machinjiri, Chileka, Chirimba and Ndirande townships, rendering residents homeless.
The rains also caused rivers such as South Lunzu to flood, making some roads impassable.
The affected roads include Nkolokoti- Area 5 as a bridge near Chikapa Trading Centre in Machinjiri was wept away. While Kameza- Chileka Road and Machinjiri Turnoff-Area 5 Road were impassable due to the flooded water.
In an interview on Sunday, Blantyre City Council spokesperson Deborah Luka said the council through disaster desk office was yet to come up with preliminary assessment on the extent of the damages caused by the heavy rains.
“Our team is on the ground assessing the impact of the disaster.
“After finalising the assessment, we will submit the report to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs [Dodma] possibly by tomorrow [today],” she said.
Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula was not available for comment on Sunday ’s disasters.
But one of the victims Semu Banda claims that all her property had been swept away by the floods.
A witness Blessings Nyambi said a motor vehicle which parked at one of the garages in Machinjiri Township was swept away by the floods.
“It is the worst scenario in the neighbourhood. Maize gardens have been swept but we thank God for the life,” he says.
Chileka Police Station public relations officer Jonathan Philipo said as of 1:45pm on Sunday, they had not received any report on deaths or injuries due to the heavy rains. His counterpart at Ndirande Police Station Kelvin Nyirenda was not available for comment.
As of January 20 2023 Dodma had recorded 56 deaths due to disasters since the onset of 2022/23 rainy season.
According to Khamula, 30 people have been killed by lightning while 26 died after walls fcollapsed on them. Cumulatively, 16 427 households or 73 921 people have been affected and the department has so far reached out to 10 427 households or 45 621 people with relief assistance which includes food and non-food items.
