When the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services warned people about the likelihood of property damaging and life-threatening floods due to heavy rains, community members in Senior Chief Kanyenda’s area, Nkhotakota District, heard the message and took the necessary precautionary measures. But, as SAMUEL DUNCAN writes, even that action has not been enough to save one life.
Wongani Mkandawire, who is Nkhotakota District Council’s spokesperson, is, like other residents of the lakeshore district, a sad man.
“We have lost one person, who was working as guard at one of the lodges in the district, to floods,” he sheds light on what has turned him from a jovial to crestfallen man.
Mkandawire said one death is one too many.
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Ironically, the victim died at a time he had hope of being saved.
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This is because, according to one of the people that have been deployed to rescue people who have been trapped by floods after rains fell in droves from Tuesday to yesterday, the guard died after a canoe which was used to rescue flood survivors capsized in Senior Chief Kanyenda’s area.
The incident occurred at Dwangwa in the district.
“The floods have, as at now, killed one person and affected 6,145 people across the district. Senior chiefs Mphonde and Kanyenda’s areas remain the most affected,” the district council’s mouthpiece said.
Nkhotakota District acting Disaster Risk Management Officer George Zibophe said four people have, so far, been reported injured as hundreds continue to remain trapped as rescue efforts continue.
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He said rescue efforts have faced problems such as increased levels of water and faulty locally sourced boats.
Meanwhile, Nkhotakota Police Station spokesperson Paul Malimwe has advised road users not to use the M5 Road stretch between Kaombe bridge and Kaombe road block.
“The stretch is completely cut off by floods,” Malimwe said.
This, according to environmental management activist Maloto Chimkombero, could be one of the effects of climate change.
He said there is a need for stakeholders to join hands in environmental restoration efforts, citing tree planting as one of the strategies that may ease the situation.
In the meantime, Nkhotakota District Council officials have instituted a team that has been mandated to mobilise humanitarian support for hundreds of disaster survivors.
Malawi Defence Force soldiers have been leading rescue operations, with district officials indicating that over 200 people remain trapped in the district.
As we went to press Thursday, heavy rains had hit Jenda in Mzimba District, where district officials feared for the worst.
