By Emmanuel Chilemba
Five people, including three members of the same family, have died following heavy rains induced by Tropical Cyclone Gombe in parts of the Southern region.
According to a statement from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), the three family members are a 49-year-old woman, her 32-year-old daughter and their two-year old grandson. They were washed away when they were trying to cross a flooded Namathanje River in the area of traditional authority in Machinga district.
The other case is that of a 78-year-old man who has died after being hit by a collapsing wall in Paramount Kawinga’s area in the same district.
The statement further says another tragedy occurred in Mangochi district, where a man aged 28, in TA Chowe died after being swept away by running water as he was trying to cross a flooded Ringamasa River.
The Tropical Cyclone Gombe-induced heavy downpour which started on Saturday last week has also wreaked havoc in many parts of Southern Region district.
The Chikwawa-Nsanje road has been cut off at Bereu and Sekeni due to flooding making Nsanje district inaccessible by road.
In Phalombe district, a camp that was hosting people affected by Tropical Storm Ana has been affected by Cyclone Gombe-induced floods. A stretch along the Zomba-Phalombe Road has also been damaged.
“Preliminary report from Mulanje district council indicates that flash floods have affected most of the GVH Masalima in TA Njema which borders Mozambique. A Police post and Malawi Revenue Authority offices have been submerged. The report also advises road users to avoid using the Midima-Mulanje road as it might become impassable due to heavy downpour and instead use the Thyolo-Mulanje road,” reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile, DODMA has deployed a search and rescue team comprising the Malawi Defence Force, Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Red Cross Society in the affected areas to provide lifesaving interventions.
