Friday, February 19, 2010

Malawi warned of imminent floods

Malawi's Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has issued a warning that floods will hit some parts of the country. The warning comes after some parts of the country including Thyolo, Chikhwawa, Neno, Mwanza experienced drought that has scorched maize in the filed.
On the other hand Salima, Mzuzu, and Rumphi have experienced hail storm while Karonga and Chitipa were hit by an earthquake respectively.

In a statement this year, the department said due to prolonged dry spell that occurred, some parts of Malawi are likely to experience above normal rainfall with persisting El Nino conditions until April this year.

The department said the floods will be due to compensatory effects for the deficiency that has occurred so far in Malawi.

“The projected rainfall for the country during the second half of the season will be characterized by some high intensity storms likely to cause floods in some areas,” said the department.


The department’s Deputy Director Grey Munthali warned that the floods are more likely to occur in low lying areas and his office has since alerted relevant departments on the forecasts.

On her part Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness in the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) Lillian Ng’oma said her office has disaster desks manned by officers in all the districts across Malawi to respond in times of disasters.

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