Malawi: At Least 23 People Dead After Major Flood

According to Malawi’s Ministry of Homeland Security, at least 23 people have died and another 11 reported missing Friday following flooding caused by heavy rains.

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The incessant downpour - which spanned several days - has affected more than 100,000 people or some 22,000 households, the release from Homeland Security Minister Nicholas Dausi stated.

Two major bridges were submerged, cutting off access to Malawi's second largest city, Blantyre. 

Power-generating capacity and water supplies were also affected in some areas, with about 270 megawatts of the nation's 320 megawatts of available hydropower capacity being offline, electricity company EGENCO said.

About one dozen districts, in the southern part of Malawi, have been inundated by flood waters.

Commissioner Charles Makanga told the AFP that multiple camps were installed in the district of Mulanje to provide support for displaced people.

Malawi Red Cross, the defence force, and police search and rescue operations have combined efforts across the devastated regions of the east African nation, the statement disclosed.

Malawi’s Meteorological Department advised that sporadic downpours are expected to continue until the middle of next week.