Heavy rains cause damage

Incessant rains in most parts of the country this week have damaged infrastructure, including roads and raised fears of flooding.

In Nkhotakota District, the rains have damaged the Lakeshore Road, also known as the M5, which has been cut off at Phakwe while in Chikwawa District, the M1 is reduced to a single lane at Bereu, making it difficult for motorists to pass through.

Roads Authority (RA) yesterday was not certain on when the damaged section of the M5 will be fixed. However, the road has been closed to traffic pending maintenance.

RA spokesperson Portia Kajanga in an interview yesterday said a contractor is working on the M1 in Chikwawa, but for the M5, the area is still receiving heavy rains.

She said: “So, it is difficult to tell when works will be completed on the M5. However, our contractor is doing everything possible to reinstate the place in the shortest time possible.”

Kajanga could also not tell how much it will cost to fix the section on the M5. However, she said the money to be used is part of the sum allocated for rehabilitation of the 60-kilometre section from Kaphatenga in Salima to Benga in Nkhotakota.

“For the time being, road users are advised to use the M1 while others can use the Nkhotakota Game Reserve road,” she said.

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has since predicted flash floods, especially in flood-prone areas such as Chikwawa, Nsanje and other lakeshore areas.

Chikwawa district commissioner Ali Phiri said floods pose a big threat in as far as the cholera outbreak is concerned.

He stated that they are banking on the large number of people that have received the cholera vaccine “meaning that a great proportion is safe”.

In terms of preparation for disaster, Phiri was upbeat that this year, even in the face of floods or cyclones, few people only will be affected.

He said: “Last season’s disaster was a lesson, 861 families were moved from their place and are now in uplands and about 10 villages relocated on their own. We have evacuation centres ready, an emergency operation centre where all stakeholders operate from, we have also sensitised village committees and they are all alert.”

On the other hand, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says it arranged for the deployment of a search and rescue team comprising the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the Malawi Police Service and the Marine Department to Lower Shire districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa.

“Councils and residents should clear all drainage systems to make sure that water is given ample drainage space and avoid flooding. If you can manage, provide first aid treatment to the injured and those in shock and call for medical help,” reads a statement by Dodma.

Viral video clips yesterday also showed a flooded M5 at Mtakataka in Dedza with flood waters covering the entire road surface.

Yet another video clip showed staff houses at Chikwawa Teacher Training College campus, standing in water.

A commentary to the video said the water razed down a perimeter fence and found its way into the campus.

Since the onset of the 2022/23 rainy season Dodma has recorded 21 deaths, 15 due to lightning strikes and six due to collapsed walls following stormy rains while 59 people have sustained various degrees of injuries.

Cumulatively, 6 934 households (approximately 31 203 people), have been affected in the disasters which have also caused damage to public infrastructure including roads, schools and hospitals.

Combined effects of Tropical Storms Gombe and Ana between January and March this year killed 85 people and affected 1 154 298 others in the Southern Region.

Thirty-nine people were killed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Gombe in March while 46 were killed during Tropical Storm Ana in January.