Misery for Lilongwe with floods: Malawi army helicopter rescues children
A military rescue helicopter on Friday morning spent hours around Mtandire and Mtsiridza areas in Lilongwe to rescue children who were stuck no where after heavy flooding when Lingadzi river burst its banks.
For hours, residents of Area 49 New Shire watched helplessly as two brothers aged 12 and 8 remained stuck in the middle of the floods.
Army officials, Police, Lilongwe City Council, Officials from Department of Disaster Preparedness convened an impromptu site meeting to ferry the kids to safety.
A chopper was called in. Minutes passed. “Noone should shout. We need to keep the kids calm,” an army officer was heard advising the crowd that swelled in hundreds.
Three volunteers jumped into the water, one missed the safety spot and was washed away.
Two docked on a small island where the boys were holding on to maize stalks. The crowd cheered!
Minutes later the Presidential chopper was seen from miles away. It came near, made two trips to lift the brothers, alive to safety.
Nyasa Times could not immediately establish their names.
Their parents were whisked away hours earlier preventing them from seeing the shocking incident.
Lilongwe City Council officials could not immediately indicate the extent of damages.
But indicated that Nankhaka river which cuts through Area 30, Area 18 and parts of Area 49 Gulliver had also cause severe damages to households.
No death was immediately reported but some witnesses said one man was missing.
This is the worst flooding in the capital city since the onset of the rains this year.
The flooding waters have also washed away a bridge between Area 18 and Area 49, making the road impassable.
This is the first time that a military rescue helicopter has been used in such rescue operation.
Malawi, including the capital, is receiving heavy rains this year and the office of Disaster Management say 14 people have died due to the heavy rains which has affected 14000 others who are in need of relief items including food. The flooding in Mtandire and Mtsiridza submerged vehicles, shops and other items as car roofs only could be seen.
Many routes in the country are currently flooded and travel is very challenging.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
GET RID OF ESCOM AND ALL THEIR IDIOTS!
ITS HIGH TIME THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY ESCOM HAS A MONOPOLY ON
ELECTRICITY AND THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY IN THE COUNTRY BUT THEY DRIVE
AROUND IN THEIR TRUCKS LOOKING LIKE CHICKENS WITH THEIR HEADS CUT OFF..
MALAWI IS A BIG JOKE IN AFRICA. THEY TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT BUT THERE ARE
ONLY THIEVES AND JEALOUSY IN THE NASTY CULTURE!
Kick them away… AIRTEL WAS USELESS AND THEY ARE GOING SOON,,,
Kutengerako zabwino sikulakwitsa ai,ndibwino boma litalimbikitsa kubzala mitengo mwa kompazale ngati nthawi ya kamuzu pa youth week.Ulanda makala kuli ngati kukoza mpanda njoka italowa kale.Amene ali kutali ndimagetsi amaoneka bwino akasita zovala zao ndi iron ya makala,monga aphunzitsi,achipatala,azaulimi,apolisi,just mentioning afew.chofunika tibzale yochuluka ndipo tigwiritse ntchito yochepa tikatero ngakhale mchenga udzachepa.
I just hope the former Mayor’s house has also been flooded. If he had been improving drainage systems and enforcing no-construction zones, the damage would have been greatly reduced.
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O When an adult stumbles and falls, he/she turns to see what caused it. When a minor falls, he/she turns to watch who is around. Let’s choose not to be minors here. . . . Kodi m’mbuyo mu zinaliko izi? What is it that has changed now? “Time”, you say? Ha! . . . Be not cheated that time has changed, for it hasn’t. Truth is, “The sun that shines today is the same sun that shone when your father was born, and will still be shining when your last grandchild passes into the darkness.” – George Clason. What has… Read more »
You have my 2marks. what you said is the truth. but a problem in Malawi is that any good idea which can change our country is turned into politics. There is only a few people who loves there country like you. Many only target money making points regardless of how Malawi be like in 10 years coming!!!! Bravo brother!!! You have intergrity!!!!!
Paying for Environmental Sins in grand style. Lets join hands with the few of us who are fighting for environmental protection!!!!!!
Lord have mercy
A WORD TO BWANA BIKOKO ,IS THAT PLS TRY TO ENHANCE THE BYLAW OF AND PUNISH THOSE WHO EXCAVATE SOILS ALONG OUR ALREADY POOR ROADS.THIS IS ONE WAY OUR INLAND AND LOCATIONAL ROADS HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND WASHED AWAY. BE STRONG AGAINST THE CASHGATERS AT THE COUNCIL
anthu tikumaonjeza kwambiri, ndalama za cashgate tapenga nazo, munthu sungamakamange nyumba mu mtsinje kumeneku ndikudwala, chauta amadziwa pobwezera pake, zitha ndalama zimenezo ndi ma maintenance a nyumba magalimoto ndi kugula mapoto ena.
Fruits of Corruption.
New Shire was not supposed to be a residential area but our greedy City officials and corrupt MHC officials shared the land amongst themselves and their cronies. Its a river bank area which was to be separated from the original genuine 49 Shire by a tree belt but now its full of houses. Suppose the water came during the night, what would happen???
Sand miners are everywhere and nobody dares to stop them from destroying the environment especially the roads and river beds. Lets wait and see.
very true of the sand miners. look at how they have widened the small water channel across from Area 18A dip tank at the car wash. Mind you this is right along the busy Area18-49 road but officials turn a blind eye. Choncho izi zisachitike? We are playing with fire!