Malawi: Flooding in southern Malawi kills 30 /update 1

Event

Continued flooding in southern Malawi has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people and left hundreds more injured and displaced approximately 115,000 as of Monday, March 11. Heavy rains in recent days have affected the Southern Region, particularly Nsanje and Phalombe districts. Severe flooding has also been reported in Chikwawa, Blantyre, Neno, and Mwanza districts along with associated electricity, water, and transportation disruptions. The continued effects of flooding, including telecommunication and transportation disruptions, are expected to persist in the coming days and further rain and flooding is possible toward the end of the week as Tropical Cyclone Idai returns to the region.

Context

A tropical disturbance, which later formed to become Tropical Cyclone Idai, brought heavy rain and consequent flooding to Malawi's Southern Region in the past week. President Peter Mutharika declared a state of disaster.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities, anticipate flooding and associated transportation disruptions, including road closures, and remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of moving water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater and chemical products; all items having come into contact with floodwater should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.