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Scores of households are rendered destitute after a heavy down pour coupled with strong winds blew off roofs of several houses and a school block in the areas of chief Wimbe and Simulemba in Kasungu, central Malawi.
A village headman in the area estimates that over 100 houses have been destroyed by the heavy down pour Wednesday. Most of the houses were grass thatched.
“The rains started at around 1:30 pm coupled by hailstorm and over 100 houses have been unroofed,” said chief Mawawa whose area has been affected.
He described the incident as the first of its kind since the inception of this year’s rain season.
No injuries have been reported so far.
He says “Among the affected villages are Kambewa, Chiotha, Foloma, Mawawa, Jobo and Pwanthani”.
A Headmaster at Chamama Primary school, east of Kasungu District headquarters told the media that a school block of two classrooms which accommodates standard one pupils was blown off by the storm. It happened when pupils had knocked off.
“The iron sheets were blown away from the roof, but thank God the classes were empty otherwise we would be talking something bad,” he said.
District commissioner for Kasungu, Harrison Lende said the council was yet to receive a report on the incident.
“We will go on the ground to assess the damage as soon as we get the report,” said Mr. Lende.
Last year heavy rains also damaged several houses in the district in the areas of Chief Wimbe, Njombwa, Kaomba and Mawawa.
