The Malawi nation is in new crisis. Cyclone Freddy has wreaked havoc in the Southern region of the country sweeping off houses and killing people especially in Blantyre townships and in particular, Chilobwe township.
According to Blantyre South West Police spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa, 39 bodies have been recovered of which 36 are from Chilobwe township with the search operation still underway as people have been reported missing who are being believed to have been swept away by heavy flooding water. In Chilobwe, an explosion of water from Soche Mountain around 2 am destroyed houses and killed people who were sleeping in their houses. The other affected areas are Manase, Chileka, Machinjiri, Chigumula, Soche, and Bangwe.
“The figures will keep changing as we are still searching for the bodies,” said Mikuwa.
ESCOM infrastructure has not been spared. Roads, and bridges have been damaged in most parts of the southern region districts. Classes in southern region schools have been suspended.
Minister of water and sanitation Abida Mia and Malawi Defence Force soldiers are on the scene to strategies for a rescue operation. The country today is in shock. Cyclone Freddy has worsened a country that was already battling a cholera crisis.
