Hailstorms and stormy rains have destroyed houses and property in some parts of the country rendering some people homeless.

On Thursday afternoon, some districts experienced heavy rains coupled with heavy winds and hailstorms.

Lilongwe is one of the districts that has registered the damage which affected 68 houses in Group Village Heads (GVH) Nyanja, Chioza and Mazinga in Traditional Authority Chiseka.

On Friday, Director of Response and Recovery in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Moses Chimphepo visited the areas to appreciate the extent of damage.

Chimphepo said it was saddening to see the extent of damage caused at the onset of the rainy season fearing that the damage may be huge at the peak of the season.

“Since the seasonal forecast is similar to that of last year, we anticipate some disasters to occur but not as early as this. We still urge people to take precautionary measures as early as possible so that lives are saved,” said Chimphepo.

He said that the department has made arrangements for the provision of relief assistance to affected households as councils are conducting assessments to establish the extent of damage.

Chairperson for Chiseka Area Civil Protection Committee (ACPC), Victor Botomani said one serious injury of a 12 year-old girl from Mazinga has been reported and she is currently receiving treatment at Mitundi Health Centre.

Chimphepo has since advised the ACPC to be vigilant as he observed that some houses were already disasters in waiting and cannot withstand the heavy rains.

“I have seen some houses that were poorly constructed and uncovered wells which pose a threat to many; especially children. I have advised the ACPC to immediately look into the issue so that such things are ironed out as soon as possible.

One of the affected, Ethel Filimoni from GVH Mazinga said the incident happened on Thursday around 4 pm.

Filimoni said she was in her house when she saw the roof of her house blown off and immediately; she sought refuge at a near-by church.

“There was a dark crowd and within a short of period of time, hailstorms were all over.

“As I was trying to figure out my next move, the walls started falling and that’s when I decided to run outside and ended up in a church building,” she said.

Filimoni said she hasn’t recovered anything from her house and she feels so helpless as she cant even locate the iron sheets from her house.

Chimphepo has since assured the affected people that the department will provide relief assistance to the affected people as soon as possible.

So far, Kasungu, Neno, Phalombe, Mangochi, Mulanje, Dedza, Salima and Mchinji have also been affected by the stormy rains, with Mchinji recording two deaths and three injuries.

Pictures detail the extent of damage and Chimphepo's visit in Lilongwe