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
A grocery shop closed Tuesday morning at Rukuru … ck — Pic by George Chunga, Nyasa Times
Karonga  hit by flooding
Karonga hit by flooding
Shop owners in Karonga were left to count the cost of flooding water
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

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Drake
Drake
8 years ago

If this was in Lower shire the Northern ers are always in the forefront screaming Asamuke!! Kuzolowera kulandira za ulere!!!. One thing Malawians should appreciate is that districts following the rift valley plains like Karonga, Nkhotakota, Salima, Mangochi Nsanje and Chikwawa are prone to floods always and every year. Karonga is worse off than these other Districts because of tremors and if you visit Karonga you will see that after twenty years also most of Karonga around the town will be under water so instead of us accusing Karonga people let those in the know mitigate on how this situation… Read more »

maganizo wa maganizo
maganizo wa maganizo
8 years ago

you are now reaping the fruits you sowed by voting for joice banda. musovenge

Jinack Chinula
Jinack Chinula
8 years ago

no rain in Monkey Bay region.

Jinack Chinula
Jinack Chinula
8 years ago

It is a fortune if there is rain in that area, here in Monkey Bay there is no rain and the maize we planted is scotched. Let maize mill owners there help to grow more maize and cassava so that they have the chance to have more customers for milling at the maize mills.

boy-boy
boy-boy
8 years ago

ingowasusani athuwa .

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