The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has said two deaths have been recorded, with approximately 1,800 households (about 8,100 people) affected during Tropical Cyclone Chido (TCC).
In a statement released Monday, Dodma Commissioner Charles Kalemba said councils were conducting field assessments to verify preliminary reports.
Kalemba said in the statement that the department had received preliminary reports on TCC from Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba City, Phalombe, Mulanje, Neno, Mwanza, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Blantyre City, Blantyre District, Thyolo, Balaka, Ntcheu, Dedza, Lilongwe City, Lilongwe District and Mchinji councils, which he said had been affected.
“Reports from Machinga District indicate that a total of 650 households have been affected, with one death (caused by collapsing walls) recorded,” the statement reads.
It further says in Blantyre District Council, reports indicate that a total of 270 households had been affected, with one death caused by collapsing walls recorded.
In Zomba City, reports also show that a total of 224 houses, mainly from Mpila, Masongola, Mbedza, Mtiya, Likangala, Chirunga and Chinamwali wards in Zomba Central Constituency, had been damaged.
In Phalombe, reports indicate that strong winds affected 305 houses in traditional authorities (TAs) Jenala and Nyezelera.
“The council further reports that roofs of classrooms blocks and a feeding shelter have been blown off at Nkhulambe and Utwa Primary Schools,” the statement reads.
Mulanje District Council has reported that 199 houses had been damaged in TA’s Juma and Nkanda.
The council in Mulanje has also received reports of damage from Providence Girls’ secondary, Namindola and Mbenje primary schools in the district.
In Mangochi District, the council reported that stormy rains had blown down roofs of dwelling houses, classroom blocks and a community-based organisation (CBO).
“Actual figures will be confirmed in due course,” Kalemba said in the statement.
In Chikwawa, the council reported that a maternity block at Mfela Health Centre in TA Katunga had been damaged by strong winds, with its roof blown down.
Reports from Blantyre City Council also indicated that a classroom block’s roof had
been damaged at Malabada Primary School.
In Neno District, a total of 84 houses had been damaged in TA Symon.
Dodma also indicated that roads leading to Matandani, Matope, Msambo and Mdambe health centres had been rendered impassable.
In Ntcheu, a total of 18 houses were damaged in TA Ganya whereas in Mchinji, 46 houses were damaged in TA Kazyozyo.
There were also reports of damage in Dedza, with crop fields washed away in
TA Chilikumwendo.
From Balaka, the council reported that TCC had destroyed infrastructure in TAs Nsamala, Sawali and Amidu.
In Lilongwe District, heavy rains were reported to have damaged houses in TA Chimutu whereas in Lilongwe City, the council reported that structures had been damaged in Mtandire, Maria and Sese wards.
The situation was, however, relatively calm in Mwanza, Thyolo and Nsanje districts, with little or no damage reported so far.
Meanwhile, an update by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) states that the cyclone, which was downgraded to a moderate tropical storm, continues to weaken as it moves at a speed of 22 kilometres per hour towards the west and was likely to exit Malawi yesterday afternoon.
DCCMS said the remnants of TCC were over Southern Malawi by 10am on Monday.
However, business was moving at a snail’s pace in the old capital of Zomba and in some parts of the Southern Region.
This was a result of fears of Chido.
For instance, many businessmen did not open shops in Zomba.
Businessman Mavuto Chikhungwa of Sellies Enterprises said it was risky to have the electronic shop opened.
“Rains may have damaged our goods. This is why we delayed opening our shop,” he said.
A few others have opened but delayed to do so.
Some parts of Zomba had experienced negative impacts, notably Nsondole Primary School.
A roof of one of the girl’s toilets was blown down.
Nsondole Primary School Head teacher Mafken Banda told The Daily Times that this happened between Sunday and Monday.
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