Strong winds accompanied by heavy rains have left a trail of destruction in Thyolo District, rendering at least 65 households homeless across three Traditional Authorities — Boyidi, Magi and Nguluwe.

Thyolo District Commissioner (DC) Hudson Kuphanga confirmed the development to Zodiak on Tuesday morning, describing the situation as “deeply worrying” as families struggle to recover from the damage.

“The disaster occurred last night, blowing off roofs and causing some houses to collapse,” said Kuphanga. “We have so far recorded 65 affected households, but our assessment teams are still on the ground to verify the full extent of the damage.”

He said while the assessment continues, the district’s priority is to ensure that the affected families receive immediate support.

“Our main focus now is to make sure all the families receive timely assistance from the Department of Disaster and Management Affairs (DoDMA),” Kuphanga added. “These are people who have lost shelter, and they need urgent help.”

Preliminary reports indicate that some families have sought temporary refuge with schools. No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.

Kuphanga has since appealed to humanitarian partners and well-wishers to assist the displaced households with essential items such as food, plastic sheets, and bedding as the rainy season intensifies.

Authorities say a comprehensive report will be released once the full assessment is completed.