Following a heavy downpour in Mwinilunga a life was lost while property worth thousands of kwacha has been destroyed. 

District Commissioner Harrison Kamuna says  that the  district disaster management committee is developing a comprehensive report which will be used to provide temporal help to the victims.

“We have a few tents under DMMU at the district administration, once a comprehensive report is given expeditiously, we will give it to the victim for temporal use,” he said. 

He has since called on people in the district to be extra careful and ensure that their houses are in good condition for habitation.

The District Commissioner further disclosed that those whose houses may be at risk of collapsing to vacate them and find alternative accommodation. 

Following the disaster, a  29 years old Man of Mukoma village in Kanong’esha chiefdom in Mwinilunga district has died after being struck by lightning. 

District Commissioner Harrison Kamuna who identied the victim as Reagan Mukumbi said the incident took place on November 18, 2024 around 17:00 hours when the deceased together with his wife were asleep. 

“Yes we thank God that the houses that were affected did not cause any harm to anyone, but unfortunately one life was lost due to lightning,” Mr Kamuna said.

He explained that the couple heard a sharp sound after which the deceased shouted for help and immediately became unconscious prompting his wife to call for help. 

With  the help of neighbors the deceased was immediately rushed to Mwinilunga district hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the facility and the body is deposited in mortuary at the same hospital. 

And Mr Kamuna said the heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning has also left a trail of destruction on public and private infrastructure. 

Mr Kamuna said when he together with members of the district disaster management committee conducted a quick assessment on the damage in Kabanda ward that several houses have had their roofs  blown off with collapsed walls leaving the occupants stranded with no accomodation and in some cases no food. 

He said a staff house at Kampemba health post has had it’s roof blown off while a number of maize, cabbage and tomato fields in Kabanda area have been destroyed.