By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, February 29, Mana:  One person has died and over 6,147 people have been displaced in the lakeshore district of Nkhotakota due to heavy rains that have caused flooding in the district since Tuesday night.

Presenting a preliminary report to the District Executive Committee (DEC), Nkhotakota District Council Economist, John Manda, said over four hired boats are carrying out search and rescue exercise in the areas of Traditional Authority (TA) Kanyenda, Mphonde and Malengachanzi in the district that have been heavily affected by the flash floods.

Manda reported that the area of TA Kanyenda, which is in the Dwangwa, as being the most affected with 4,985 victims.

He added that due to the high-speed flow of water in the area, it is difficult to send rescue boats hence over 203 people were still stranded in unreachable affected areas.

Manda indicated that so far one person has died, a guard at Victorious Lodge at Dwangwa, when a canoe that was coming from rescuing some victims capsized.

Director of Planning and Development for Nkhotakota District Council, Davies Kavalo, has called on stakeholders to come in and assist with donations of foodstuff, clothes, sanitary facilities, shelters and other forms of support to help with the rescue and settlement of affected people in the district.

Kavalo said this is a preliminary report because search and rescue activities are still ongoing as the rains and flooding are still happening in the area.

He indicated that the Malawi Defense Force had arrived in the district to assist in the search and rescue of people in the affected areas.  

The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) issued a press release on Wednesday on the flash floods happening in the districts of Karonga and Nkhotakota and is since providing support to the affected communities.