Incessant rains since Sunday have killed at least nine people, including two Standard One learners and affected more than 3 500 households in some parts of the country.
Three people have died in Neno, two in Chikwawa, two in Mangochi and another two in Salima, according to Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma). Authorities have since warned that the rains may continue until tomorrow.
Chikwawa is among the hardest hit as two people have died in the district due to floods. The Bereu Road was flooded yesterday and 1 500 households have been affected so far.
Chikwawa district disaster risk management officer Charity Machika told The Nation in
an interview yesterday that one of the two deceased men was a primary school teacher.
“We have a road cut-off at Bereu Trading Centre. Water levels in the Mwanza River are still increasing. Since it is still raining, the numbers [of those affected] keeps changing,” she said.
water. | Leah Malimbasa
Meanwhile, Roads Authority has also confirmed on its Facebook page that the M1 has been flooded. The authority further stated on Tuesday that a section of the Chiringa–Mloza Road in Phalombe District was washed away, rendering it impassable.
In Neno District, three people
have died by yesterday. Two died after house walls collapsed on them while another was washed away by running water.
According to the district’s disaster risk management officer Amos Chandilanga, at least 84 households were left destitute after their homes were damaged.
In Mangochi, two children from the same family aged six and eight died on Tuesday as they attempted to cross a river on their way to school.
Makanjira Police spokesperson Mike Kamba said: “Upon arrival at Nanjati Stream, the older one tried to cross but unfortunately slipped and fell into the running water. In a bid to rescue her sibling, the second deceased also slipped, leading to their drowning.”
So far, about 886 households have been affected in the district, with 223 displaced and some seeking shelter in five camps, according to Mangochi Municipality chief executive officer Ernest Kadzokoya.
In Machinga, persistent rains have caused houses belonging to 500 households to collapse.
In Zomba, 310 households were affected by Tuesday, but according to the city council’s spokesperson Aubrey Moses, assessments were underway to establish “the severity of the damage”.
Meanwhile, in Salima, where two people died earlier this week, more than 197 households have been affected.
Dodma says it has started reaching out to those affected and has appealed for additional support, including maize flour, blankets, buckets, soap and other essentials.
Dodma di rec to r o f preparedness and response Charles Matabwa said yesterday that the department and its partners have been meeting to map the way forward on how best to assist affected communities.
“Some are already on the ground providing assistance. The government is committed to saving lives and help will reach everyone who has been affected,” he said.
In its update yesterday, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (MET) warned that the rains will continue until Friday, March 20.
It said the major threats include potential flooding and landslides in the Central Region, Southern Region and lakeshore areas.
Districts likely to be affected include Nkhotakota, Salima, Blantyre, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Dedza, Ntcheu, Machinga, Karonga, Zomba,
Mangochi, and Mwanza.
People have since been advised to avoid crossing flooded rivers, move away from flood-prone areas, avoid seeking shelter under trees and stay away from open spaces during storms.
Since the onset of the 2025/26 rainy season, at least 46 000 households have been affected by disasters that have damaged homes and crops.
