Rainstorms death toll rises to 13

Rainstorms coupled with lightning have killed eight more people, taking the death toll since the onset of rains to 13, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has said.

A Dodma update issued on Friday shows that in all, eight people were killed by lightning while five died after walls collapsed on them due to rainstorms in 12 of the country’s 28 districts.

The statement says cumulatively, 2 526 households, approximately 11 376 people, have been affected in Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mzimba, Nkhotakota and Salima.

Reads the report in part: “The disasters have also caused some damage to public infrastructure, mainly school blocks and health facilities. Currently, the department has reached out to 1 662 households, approximately 7 479 people, with relief assistance, which include food and non-food items, namely maize, tents, housing units, kitchen utensils and plastic sheets for temporary roofing.”

In an interview yesterday, Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula advised people to take precautionary measures to reduce disaster risks, adding that due to effects of climate change, the disasters are catastrophic, as such, people should leave disaster-prone areas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has forecasted localised rains and thunderstorms due to the influence of unstable easterly air mass between Thursday and tomorrow, particularly in the Shire Valley and Southern Highlands.

“Thunderstorms are often associated with lightning and strong winds, therefore, stay in a safe and closed shelter whenever a thunderstorm is within the vicinity until it disappears,” it warned.

As part of preparedness for this rainy season’s disasters, Khamula said the department is implementing a national multi-hazard contingency plan to guide response interventions in emergency.

With financial and technical support from the World Food Programme, Dodma established a humanitarian staging area (HSA) at Bangula in Nsanje District to enhance coordination in managing disasters in the Shire Valley.

The HSA has in stock relief items and search and rescue equipment such as boats for effective and timely response.

“The department is also dredging rivers known for flooding in the Shire Valley and is also completing construction of drains to control flooding in Lilongwe,” said Khamula.

Five months ago, Dodma provided K160 million for the procurement of land for over 4 000 households from four villages, who voluntarily wrote Chikwawa District Council to move to safer places following tropical storms Ana and Gombe.