CYCLONE LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION

MBABANE – A trail of destruction!  The effects of Tropical Cyclone Eloise have left 470 people homeless following the destructive rains which were received on Sunday and yesterday morning.

There were 105 people who were also displaced at Game 5, a tiny village around Big Bend and were evacuated to a local police station, while means to find them accomodation were being made.  According to National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Director of Early Warning Eric Seyama, the village was completely submerged in water, leaving the villagers stranded. He said the victims had to be evacuated and were currently placed at a local police station, while alternative accommodation was being sought.

Seyama said evacuation by other emergency responders was also ongoing, adding that as soon as all areas became accessible, food parcels would be distributed to affected households. He said property belonging to the victims was destroyed by the water and they were running from pillar to post to ensure that the people received assistance such as clothing, blankets and food.

Infrastructure 

He said the Lubombo and Hhohho regions were the most affected, adding that some urban infrastructure also got damaged, including Mbabane Mall and Emfuleni Lifestyle Resort. Seyama said in some areas around the country, rains began on Saturday, while other areas started receiving them on Sunday and yesterday morning. He said according to the Eswatini Meteorological Services Department, most areas received above 120mm of rain. He said rains associated with the tropical cyclone ended yesterday night and due to the fact that it was the summer season, it would continue raining until Thursday.

In the Hhohho Region, Seyama stated that 32 households reported damaged infrastructure with about 160 people who were affected. These include Mbabane East, where there were nine homes which were damaged and four homes in Mbabane West. In Mhlangatane, there were two homes, Ntfonjeni had five, Nkhaba had two, Motshane had five and Pigg’s Peak had seven homesteads. 

A total of three households reported damages in Manzini where a total of 15 people were affected. They include two households at Ekukhanyeni and one at Ludzeludze.  He said in the Lubombo Region, 30 households reported infrastructure damage and about 150 people were affected. There were 20 people affected at Nkilongo, eight at Dvokodvweni and one at Siphofaneni.

He said in the Shiselweni Region, there were eight households that reported damages with 40 people affected. At Mtsambama there were three affected households, two in Shiselweni I, two at Ngudzeni and one household at Maseyisini. Further Seyama mentioned that most roads around the country were damaged by the rains. He said the road to Mhlambanyatsi was almost inaccessible after a rock fell in the middle of the road, making it inaccesseble to motorists. He said motorists were forced to use the Bhunya route. He also noted that Malagwane Road was partially closed following a mud slide preventing access to Mcitsini, Manzana, Mangwaneni and other areas.

Meanwhile, he stated that all gravel roads were extensively damaged and low level bridges flooded, while some collapsed. He said a number of road accidents also occurred due to roads which were water logged. Meanwhile, NDMA will prepare a rapid assessment to ascertain the extent of damage.

Seyama said together with partners, they were finalising the response plan which would be shared with associates for resource mobilisation and support. He said being a member of the UN space charter, they had activated humanitarian response to assist in monitoring the environmental landscape of the country before and after the damage caused by the floods. 

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