By Isaac Salima:
Rains and winds that were induced by Tropical Cyclone Jude, which affected 13 districts in the Southern Region, have diminished—albeit affecting 20,646 people (approximately 4,588 households) in 11 districts.
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has disclosed that three people whose canoe capsized on the Ruo River are still missing.
In a statement signed by Dodma Commissioner Charles Kalemba, the department says the cyclone has also left 15 people injured.
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The cyclone made landfall in the country on Tuesday and has, according to a Dodma preliminary report, affected nine district councils of Nsanje, Neno, Blantyre, Mwanza, Phalombe, Zomba City, Mangochi, Thyolo and Mulanje.
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The figure is an increase from a previous update that indicated that 11,370 people had been affected.
“Phalombe District Council still has the highest number of affected people (9,968); an increase from 5,634. The total number of [the] displaced population has increased from 3,029 to 4,883 (approximately 1,019 households), with two more camps established, bringing the total number of camps to eight,” Kalemba says.
Meanwhile, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has said the cyclone no longer poses a significant threat as it has moved away from Malawi.
The cyclone caused rainfall in the affected districts from Monday to Thursday.
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However, its impact was not that disastrous as, according to Met Director Lucy Mtilatila, its intensity reduced when it was approaching Malawi.
Education services, which were suspended in the affected districts, resumed Thursday.
