Floods Cause Havoc in Phalombe
Heavy rains have damaged water infrastructure and displacing scores of people in Phalombe district.
Both Chief Executive Officer for Southern Region Water Board, Duncan Chambamba, and Phalombe Major Water Users Board Chairperson, James Mphepo, have confirmed to Zodiak Online on Thursday.
On Wednesday, heavy rains hit some parts of Phalombe that caused some rivers to swell including Phalombe river.
Following, the impact of the floods, some sections of the pipeline for both southern region water board and Phalombe Water Users Association (WUA) have been washed away due to flooding of Phalombe River.
Chambamba said they have since sent a water bowser to assist its customers at the boma as they are working to fix the section of pipelines which were washed away by floods.
"We are working around the clock to ensure customers are drinking potable water at the Boma," said Chambamba.
On his part, Phalombe major water scheme chairperson, James Mphepo, said some of the pipes at their intake have been damaged; thereby, interrupting water supply in the areas of traditional authorities Mkhumba and Kaledzera among others.
Mphepo said the flooding water have extensively damaged the pipeline at the intake, calling on people to exercise patience as they working to fix the damage pipeline.
Area Civil Protection Committee(ACPC) chairperson for Jenala, Samson Nakhonyo, one of the disaster areas in the district, said floods have displaced people in four Group Village Headmen and they are currently seeking refuge in churches and relations houses.
Nakhonyo said people are on the ground to assess the damage caused by the floods.
Meanwhile , Phalombe district council officials are yet to comment on the disaster.