Torrential rains in Malawi have claimed the lives of 11 people, injured 80 others, and displaced thousands over the past few days, according to the country’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).
Speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday, DoDMA spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said the fatalities and injuries were caused by lightning, flooding, and collapsing walls.
“Heavy rains have caused significant damage to homes and schools across much of the country, affecting around 48,000 people,” Khamula reported, noting that the destruction has disrupted classes in several areas.
Authorities are working to assist affected families and individuals, with Khamula emphasizing the urgency of providing aid before more heavy rains are expected.
The central region of Malawi was particularly hard hit last Friday, when lightning strikes killed four students and injured six others.
Malawi has been grappling with increasingly severe weather in recent years. Cyclone Freddy in 2023 caused widespread devastation, killing thousands and displacing over a million people. The ongoing recovery from the cyclone has made the nation particularly vulnerable to further weather-related disasters.