Rain of terror in Karonga: Flooding devastates

Karonga is literally drowning following heavy rains that fell for about eight continuous hours Monday afternoon.

Malawi Defence Force team (MDF) worked round the clock evacuating the most hit areas and people – most of who live around North Rukuru River.

A grocery shop closed Tuesday morning at Rukuru … ck — Pic by George Chunga, Nyasa Times

Karonga hit by flooding

Shop owners in Karonga were left to count the cost of flooding water

MDF has been deployed in the district following announcement by the meteorological department that floods would Karonga this year. Nkhata Bay district has also been tipped.

The perennial river, that floods almost every year, is believed to show one of its worst acts this season.

Nyasa Times correspondent in Karonga, George Chunga, has said that should rains continue today [Tuesday] or tomorrow [Wednesday] there “is great likelihood of flooding.”

Our correspondent moved around Karonga Tuesday morning and took the following pictures.

Another of our correspondents, Tiwonge Kumwenda, reported Tuesday afternoon that officials had confirmed that over 600 households had been displaced.

Assistant District Disaster Risk Management Officer Walusungu Mwafulirwa said despite Karonga being a flood prone area, the tragedy that struck on Mondayhas “never happened before.”

According to Mwafulirwa, the affected houses are from over 22 villagers under group village headman Mweninguwe, Zindi and Mwanganda.

“Most of the victims are taking refuge at Chinsewu CCAP and AIC churches,” said Mwafulirwa.

Mwafulirwa sounded an SOS for maize, beans and tents for survivors.

Member of Parliament for the area affected John Kamwambi asked the communities to “move out” out of the flood-hit areas.

No life has been lost yet to the disaster.–Additional reporting by  Pius Nyondo and Tiwonge Kumwenda, Nyasa Times