Heavy rains and hailstorm have caused damage to scores of houses and crop fields in Traditional Authorities (TA) Santhe and Sub-TAs Nyaza and Chaima in Kasungu.

According to a report from the District Disaster Risk Management Desk Officer Steven Sakhama made available to Malawi News Agency (MANA), 664 households have had their houses either completely or partly damaged while some had their roofs blown off.

On 7th and 8th January the areas of TA Santhe, STAs Nyaza and Chaima received heavy rains that were accompanied by hailstorm and strong winds and the villages that were affected included Mtoso, Chisinga, Chatanga, Zombo, Chitsulu, Matondo, Saiko, Kakhuza, Longwe, Kamphako and Mphamba.

The rains also damaged about 1611 hectares of different crops.

“The rains damaged 1255 hectares of maize, 224 hectares of Soya, 100 hectares of tobacco, and 32 hectares of beans,” reads part of the report.
Meanwhile the Desk Officer has appealed for urgent assistance to those affected.

“As an immediate solution, the affected households require urgent assistance of food stuffs, plastic sheets, kitchen items, blankets and farm inputs.

“For long term solutions, there is need for sustainable housing extension services, afforestation and natural tree regeneration management and also downscaling weather forecasts early warning systems,” said Sakhama.

Kasungu district experienced a long dry spell like other districts but since the rains resumed this January the rains have been destructive.mana