Met Department dismisses fake weather alert warning of flash floods in Harare suburbs

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has disowned a weather warning circulating on social media, saying the message did not come from the department.

The alert, which claimed to be from the MSD, went viral on Tuesday. It forecast heavy thunderstorms and flash floods and listed several high-risk areas in Harare Metropolitan Province: Budiriro (Paddocks), Kuwadzana, Mbare, Highfield, Glen Norah, Glen View, Warren Park D, Waterfalls/Hopley, Chitungwiza and Borrowdale Vlei.

It also urged people to move valuables, documents and medication to higher ground, and to keep children away from drains and from rivers such as the Marimba and Mukuvisi.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the MSD said the alert was fake. It urged the public, media houses and other stakeholders to ignore the message and stop sharing it, to avoid causing unnecessary panic.

“The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) wishes to inform the public that a weather warning message currently circulating on social media did NOT originate from the MSD.

“We urge all members of the public, media houses, and stakeholders to disregard that message and avoid further circulation to prevent unnecessary panic.

“For authentic, verified and timely weather updates, early warnings, and forecasts, the public is strongly encouraged to follow ONLY official MSD communication channels…

“The MSD is the sole mandated authority to issue weather forecasts and severe weather warnings in Zimbabwe.

“Let us all be responsible and avoid spreading unverified information.”