Bridge Turns 'Death Trap' in Salima

Death trap: Running waters separates bridge from road Death trap: Running waters separates bridge from road pic Joseph Mazizi

A bridge on the M5 road between Salima and Nkhotakota has become a death trap as it stands hanging on loose earth that could give in on any slightly increased vehicle overload.

Motorists we spoke to on the road have sounded an SOS to authorities to look into the state of Lipimbi Bridge which could collapse at any available opportunity soon.

This is happening at a time the area is receiving persistent rainfall and increasing volumes of water flowing down the river into Lake Malawi close by.

“We use this road each day. We are in extreme danger. This is the only road connecting our two districts. Government must do something about this,” said one road user Innocent Kameza.

A motorist we also spoke to said the situation begs for urgent action before it gets people killed.

“The river keeps stretching every year piling pressure on the bridge. If there are no precaution measures by the government, we will experience a very dangerous accident here very soon,” he said.

Over the weekend motorists using the lakeshore road between the two districts could not proceed either way as heavy rains had destroyed the road and people made away with metals guarding another small bridge on the route.

Lipimbi Bridge is close to Siyasiya Trade Centre where the river keeps stretching with each rain season passing.

M5 is one of the country’s busy roads used by load hauling trucks.

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Last modified on Sunday, 19/01/2020

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