Landslide blocks M1 Road in Rumphi
A landslide—movement of a mass of rocks, debris and earth down a slope— has blocked M1 Road at Mbuta, a stretch lying 125 kilometres (km) from Mzuzu and 100 km from Karonga District.
Roads Authority (RA) said the landslide was triggered by part of a mountain sliding downwards into the road due to heavy rains.
“Part of the mountain is sliding downwards into the road causing heaving and breaking of the road surface. This is due to saturation of water inside the mountain,” the statement reads.
RA Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Matapa, said engineers are on the site with contractors to clear the debris and reduce hydrostatic pressure resulting from the water saturation.
“The Authority, therefore, wishes to inform the travelling public between Karonga and Mzuzu to drive cautiously as they approach the site where traffic is using one lane,”Matapa said.
Meanwhile, an Interline Bus accident was involved in an accident around the area as it was coming from Karonga heading to Mzuzu.
Rumphi Police spokesperson, Henry Mnjere, said none of the passengers has died while a few others were rushed to Luwuchi Health Centre where they were treated as outpatients.
“We are still finding out the cause of the accident, how many passengers were in the bus and other details pertaining to the accident,” he said.
M1 Road specifically in Chiweta hills has potholes which become worse during the rainy season.
