MBABANE – The siSwati proverb ‘imifula igola tintsetse’ – the rivers are overflowing – has taken on a grim, literal meaning across country.
This is due to several days of relentless rainfall which have plunged the nation into a deepening flood crisis.
In the period from Thursday to yesterday, a house was collapsing every hour.
Using the words, ‘imifula igola tintsetse’, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Victor Mahlalela stated that they had received information that 25 houses had collapsed. The destruction extends far beyond transportation networks. “This translates to one house every hour,” he said, painting a picture of a relentless, creeping disaster.
Mahlalela issued a specific warning, especially to those living in stick-and-mud houses to vacate the structures. He warned that should they notice that water was dripping from the ceiling and against the mud walls, it is a sign of danger and they should leave such structures. He also revealed that 13 people have died since December.
Mahlalela delivered the sombre update yesterday afternoon during a press briefing where he detailed the human cost of the disaster. Of the 13 fatalities, 11 are attributed to drowning under various circumstances, including those who were going about their normal routine and attempting to cross rivers.
The remaining two are said to have died around Thursday when houses collapsed.
Among the dead is a two-year-old baby from Nkwene, who was crushed to death, a loss that has cast a pall over the community. In the same structure, two adults are also said to have been injured, but survived this after paying a price – severe injury, so much that they were admitted to the Hlatikhulu Government Hospital. As of yesterday, they were still admitted to the government hospital.
Also, a second death on the same day is an adult who is also said to have been crushed to death when a house collapsed. Mahlalela warned that the situation remains volatile as the rains continue and that this could cause more damage to property.
Speaking to journalists, Mahlalela stated that the most affected place was the Lubombo Region as the rivers continue to swell. He noted that the crisis stems from persistent and widespread rainfall that began on January 10, 2026, with forecasts indicating more is yet to come. He added that these prolonged rains have saturated catchments, filled dams to bursting point, and sent rivers and streams across the mountainous nation into furious spate.
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Crocs, hippos abandoning rivers for shallow waters
MBABANE – Though hippos are known to live in the water, they avoid deep waters since they cannot swim.
Crocodiles also move away from deep or violent waters as is the case in the kingdom current. NDMA has warned that according to the information they have, crocodiles and hippos are also moving. Victor Mahlalela, the CEO of NDMA warned that these could cause harm to people.
Mahlalela warned that crocodiles are now finding their way into unexpected places like puddles (‘sidinjana’), prompting a specific warning to parents: “Parents should not let their children to play in puddles or pools of water because due to the rainfall, there could be a crocodile hiding.”
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Double disaster for Mayiwane, Ndzingeni, Mhlangatane
MBABANE – Just when they were recovering from a hailstorm that struck their homes, Mayiwane, Ndzingeni and Mhlangatane constituencies are suffering again.
These areas have also been affected by continuous rainfall that has been affecting the country. Road, bridges and houses have once again been damaged by the constant flowing water from the rivers.
Mayiwane Member of Parliament (MP) Sicelo Khunga Nkosi Dlamini yesterday issued a statement to his constituency to sympathise with families and communities who had been affected by heavy downpour.
He said the rains had caused damage to roads, bridges, homes and livelihoods, leaving many residents facing serious challenges.
“I wish to emphasise that this situation is not unique to Mayiwane alone. Many regions across the country are experiencing similar difficulties as a result of the persistent rainfall. We, therefore, stand together as a nation during this trying time,” he stated in a statement.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
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