By Patience Lunda:
About 13 districts in Malawi are expected to experience effects of Tropical Storm Jude, which was expected to make landfall on a Mozambique coast between Beira and Nampula Sunday evening.
The 13 districts that are expected to experience the most severe impact of the storm are Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Zomba, Blantyre, Balaka, Ntcheu, Machinga, Neno, Mwanza, Nsanje and Chikwawa, according to the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.
It indicates that rainfall is expected to surpass 10mm within 24 hours in the affected districts.
In a warning alert by the department, it says the torrential rains are expected to be accompanied by damaging winds, which will lead to flooding in some areas from today.
“The storm is likely going to get into or closer to Southern Malawi by Monday with rainfall anticipated to surpass 100mm within 24 hours. Flood-prone and low-lying areas in Southern Malawi to be on high alert for possible flooding,” the warning reads.
As of Sunday morning, the department said the tropical storm was 800 kilometres from Malawi and that it was still moving in its full force.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) has said it has made standby arrangements for the deployment of a search and rescue team comprising Malawi Defence Force, Malawi Police Service, Marine Department and Malawi Red Cross Society as Tropical Storm Jude approaches Malawi.
Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Charles Kalemba said they were also working with other stakeholders to raise awareness.
He has advised councils in disaster-prone areas to alert the department about areas affected by the cyclone.
“Councils in disaster-prone areas have been called upon to alert area and village disaster risk management committees to further alert and assist vulnerable communities to move to nearby evacuation centres. We are also asking people to follow precautionary measures to save lives.” he said.
Some of the precautionary measures recommended by Dodma are movement of people from flood prone areas to higher areas, not attempting to save property at the expense of lives and avoiding crossing flooded rivers and walking through running water.
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