Update: Severe floods triggered by four days of heavy rainfall across Malawi have left at least 13 people dead and 35 injured, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). The torrential rains, which fell between March 15 and 18, affected 9,598 households across 16 districts and city councils, reports Xinhua. Most of the fatalities resulted from collapsing structures and individuals attempting to cross swollen rivers.
The southern district of Chikwawa is among the hardest hit areas, recording three deaths and extensive infrastructure damage. Floodwaters washed away bridges and sections of roads, rendering the Chikwawa to Nsanje route impassable near the Bereu Trading Centre, according to Watchers News. Other heavily impacted districts include Machinga, Mangochi, Blantyre, and Neno.
In response to the disaster, authorities have established 12 evacuation camps across six councils to shelter displaced residents, according to data from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. DoDMA Commissioner Wilson Moleni issued an official update outlining the damage and appealing to development partners for immediate relief assistance. National impact assessments remain ongoing as the local weather service warns of continued rainfall over the coming days, according to Agence France-Presse.