Malawi – Hundreds Displaced by Floods Across the Country

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in Malawi has reported that flooding in several areas of the country has affected around 3,000 people over the last few days.

Northern Region

In Karonga District in Northern Region, 50 households were affected by the recent flooding of the North Rukuru River as a result of heavy rain on Wednesday 07 February. Earlier this month, flooding in Karonga left at least one person dead and several families displaced.

DoDMA’s chief relief and rehabilitation officer Fyawupi Mwafongo said “The Department is making arrangements to provide relief items for the families affected by floods in Karonga.”

Central Region

In Salima District in Central Region, flooding has affected 449 households and displaced 29 families. The flooding occurred in parts of Kalonga and Pemba late on 07 February after a period of heavy rain.

The displaced families have been relocated to a camp which the local council has set in Kalonga. Department of Disaster Management Affairs said plans to dispatch relief items to all affected households are at an advanced stage. Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima is expected to visit areas affected by the floods this week.

Heavy rain also affected parts of Lilongwe district in Central Region during this period. Six people died in flooding in Lilongwe district just a few weeks ago in December last year.

Southern Region

Meanwhile in Southern Region, flooding in Kaduya in Phalombe district on 09 February affected 290 households and displaced 68 families, according to Department of Disaster Management Affairs.

The 68 displaced families are being accommodated in a local school where the District Council has set a camp.

A report released by the Phalombe District Council said that “the affected people require immediate food and non-food items such as tents, chlorine, treated mosquito nets, maize, kitchen utensils and sweet potato vines for replanting, among others.”

Further heavy rainfall is likely and Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) has advised the general public to refrain from attempting to drive or walk across a flooded road or low water crossing.

Featured image: Previous flooding in Karonga, Malawi, during April 2017. Photo: Government of Malawi

Flood Summary

Last updated: February 15, 2018

Event

Northern, Central and Southern Regions, Malawi, February 2018

Date

January 31, 2018

Type

Flash flood, River flood

Cause

Extreme rainfall

Heavy rain at the end of January 2018 caused flooding on 31 January in Karonga District in the Northern Region. After a short respite, further heavy rain caused flooding once again in Karonga on 07 February. Heavy rain also affected other areas of the country during this time, including Salima District in Central Region and on 09 February, Phalombe in Southern Region.