Rains, floods displace people

Scores of people have been displaced and two died  following heavy rains that fell in Karonga and Lilongwe districts.

In Karonga, the rains fell on Sunday following a month-long dry spell and claimed one life and displaced many households.

Karonga Police spokesperson Enoch Livasoni identified the deceased as Timoti Swira (30) of Yafeti Mwakasungula Village in Paramount Chief Kyungu’s area.

Livasoni said Swira reportedly went for a drink in a nearby village after crossing a dry Masapa River.

However, on his way back, the river had swelled up following the heavy rains and he was swept away as he tried to cross.

Livasoni said the rains also affected many households, but did not have figures of the people and houses affected.

In Lilongwe, 46 families have been displaced by floods and evacuated to Kalieka and Kawale primary schools after their residential areas of Chipasula, Kalieka and Kawale were swept by floods when Mchesi River swelled after heavy rains on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, police in Lilongwe have said one man drowned when he attempted to cross the river at Kawale near Shareworld School.

“Ziziyo Chilongoni, 21, drowned around 6pm when he tried to cross the river to Kawale where he stayed”, said Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula.

Several households other than those displaced have also lost their property, including bags of maize, maize flour, clothes, kitchen utensils and household appliances. Entrepreneurs also lost their merchandise to the floods.

Dibious Mphanje, team leader of the Malawi Red Cross staff from Lilongwe Division at Kalieka Primary School camp, said 168 people—95 children, 35 women and 38 men—were registered as victims at the school. However, he said, there are no bathrooms and enough toilet facilities to cater for the displaced people.

“Food supplies and all facilities for the general hygiene of people like toilets, soap, and disinfectants are not yet there for the victims,” said Mphanje.

Anne Kapeya, one of the victims at Kalieka Primary School camp, said their family lost everything and what they have now are donated by sympathisers.

Families of Gloria Mtonyo of Chipasula and Muyayas of Kalieka were engaged in poultry business but the floods swept away all their chickens.