Rains induce floods in the North

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ncessant rains in the Northern Region have caused floods that have left hundreds of people helpless and disrupted part of the M1 between Bwengu in Mzimba and Chitimba in Rumphi.

The rains have also severely damaged some sections on Rumphi Nyika Road and the M5, rendering it impassable.

Mzuzu City is the worst, affected with disaster risk and rehabilitation officer Precious Mandala saying 512 households have been heavily affected.

He said areas severely affected are Nkhorongo, Lupaso, Msongwe, Mchengautuwa, Mzilawaingwe, Chibavi East and West, Masasa, Katawa and Chibanja.

He said: “Out of the 512, we have houses that have been completely damaged, partially damaged, while others have just been flooded with water, damaged food and other household items.

“We have not evacuated anybody, those affected are still within their areas, and some are in their houses. They need food, psychological help and will need shelter too.”

Some parts of Nkhata Bay District have also been heavily affected by the flash floods.

The district’s relief and rehabilitation officer Tawonga Kamanga yesterday said they were assessing the damage to ascertain the number of people who have been displaced.

“So far, some of the crop fields have been submerged in water. They are flooded,” he said.

Nkhata Bay South legislator Ken Zikhale Ng’oma (Malawi Congress Party) said the floods have affected Tukombo, Chifira, Kalowa and Kachere.

“Many houses have been damaged and district officials are on the ground to assess the damage,” said the legislator who is also Minister of Homeland Security.

In an interview yesterday, Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said 70 people have, so far, been displaced in Karonga.

“In all these Northern Region areas, and districts, assessments are ongoing. The department has made arrangements for the provision of relief assistance to the affected people. We are working with the councils to fast-track the assessments,” he said.

 The floods in the Northern Region follow the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the Southern Region where 676 people were killed and two million affected with about 500 others still missing.