The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has expressed concern over the tendency of exaggerating the extent of disaster damages by both the traditional and social media, saying the malpractice causes unnecessary fear and panic to the general public.
DoDMA’s Director of Response and Recovery Paul Kalilombe said this when he addressed members of the press after visiting areas that were reported to have been heavily affected by the Thursday earthquake in Nsanje.
“The pictures that were sent to our office were so disturbing, they depicted an unimaginable extent of damage, this forced us [DoDMA officials from Capital Hill] to visit the areas to see for ourselves and you can imagine how costly it is. If people do not have facts about disasters, they better leave it to people on the ground and get the right information,” said Kalilombe.
He said as opposed to reports of enormous damage over the social media, only one household in Lambwe Village, in Senior Chief Malemia’s jurisdiction, was damaged by the earth’s shaking that occurred at exactly 10:49 am.
Senior Chief Malemia concurred with Kalilombe, saying the damage was not as huge as reported by the media.
“10 pupils from Dinde Primary School sustained minor bruises and walls of a house belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Kamfumbi collapsed,” said Malemia of the earthquake, measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, according to the Department of Geological Surveys.
Meanwhile, 60 year-old Malita Kamfumbi, whose house collapsed, has appealed for urgent assistance.
“We are destitute as a family, we have lost all our belongings and we have no shelter, we are sleeping on an open ground. I only urge authorities to assist us with whatever they deem necessary, as you can see, my husband has been very ill, and there is nothing he can do about the situation we are in,” said Kamfumbi.
Kalilombe said the Kamfumbis will get the much needed assistance through the Nsanje District Council.
The Pictures below show Kalilombe addressing members of the press and Kamfumbi in front of her damaged house.