By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, January 15, Mana: Three peple in Dowa have died while 139 have been left destitute following flash floods that happened on Saturday due to prolonged heavy rains which washed away houses, property, crops and other infrastructure.

The floods occurred in parts of Traditional Authorities (TA) Dzoole, Msakambewa and Mponela especially in villages along Kasangazi River which overflowed due to heavy rains over a four hour downpour.

TA Mponela has confirmed the deaths within his area.

“I can confirm that we have lost two people who were swept by the overflooding waters and due to the nature of the deaths, burial has already taken place. However, three children who went missing have been found but other two are yet to be located,” he said.

The death toll has currently reached three. Police are however yet to confirm of the deaths.

TA Mponela has since called for immediate help to affected families which he said has brought a nightmare in his area and across the district, describing the floods as something that he never anticipated in the area.

“A lot of houses have been washed away and these families, as we speak, do not have anywhere to stay. They also have nothing to eat as all the foodstuff and properties has been washed away.

“As such we need urgent help like shelter, food and basic domestic materials like pails and blankets for them,” he said.

He, therefore, said there for long term assistance because a lot of crops have been lost, and most of the crops in the fields that have been washed away were already at an advanced stage.

“People had invested a lot on these fields and if they are to replant, they will need help like seed and fertilizer. However, this will still affect the overall harvest and the affected people are at risk of facing hunger in the coming months,” he said.

Across the district, 37 houses have been destroyed with 20 totally washed away. Over 139 people have been affected.

In TA Msakambewa alone, over 700 households have been affected as their fields have been washed away.

The statistics are however expected to change as evaluations are still ongoing.

Councilor for Msakambewa East Ward Martin Luka said apart from these, the floods have also damaged some infrastructure including five bridges.

“These include Lingadzi Bridge at Kadiwa, Uzami Bridge at Kalwembe - Mzukwa Road and Uzami Bridge on Mkanga – Kalikwembe Road.

“We anticipate that this would result in communication challenges within the affected communities,” he said.

Dowa District Commissioner, Stallichi Mwambiwa, said teams from the council are already deployed on the ground determining the extent of the damage and coordinating responses.

Currently, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs has donated various relief items to some of the affected people which include maize floor, beans, tents, buckets, and blankets.