LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The M5 road has become impassable due to heavy flooding in Nkhotakota District, bringing traffic and business activities to a standstill, and leaving residents grappling with the aftermath.
Several trucks and other vehicles are stranded near Mkayika, failing to pass through the flooded section of the road, as the disruption has affected essential services and movements in the area.
One of the affected road users, Wyson Chiusi, who was travelling to Nkhotakota Boma to fix an ATM, was forced to turn back to Lilongwe due to the flooding, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the disaster.
Chiusi said the situation has negatively affected his work and delayed service delivery, underscoring the human cost of the flooding.
The road closure has also disturbed business operations, with traders and service providers unable to access the district, exacerbating the economic impact.
Roads Authority CEO Ammiel Champiti has, in a statement, acknowledged that the incessant rains have impacted heavily on the M1 and M5 roads, and promised swift action to restore connectivity.
He says they have already mobilized China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to handle the affected areas on the M5 road, which include five bridges that have been washed away, offering some hope for a return to normalcy.
Motal Engil will repair the damaged Mpasadzi and Nkhamenya bridge and other affected sections along the M1 road, further efforts to mitigate the damage.
Meanwhile, officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) were on their way to Traditional Authority (TA) Kanyenda to distribute relief items to affected communities, but were also stuck due to the flooding, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Over 160 households have been displaced in T/A Kanyenda in Nkhotakota alone, a grim reminder of the human toll of the disaster.
According to DoDMA, more than 7,000 households have been displaced nationwide following persistent heavy rains and flooding, a sobering statistic that underscores the need for urgent action.
The people of Nkhotakota are counting on support and assistance to rebuild their lives and restore their livelihoods, as the district struggles to cope with the aftermath of the devastating floods.
