LILONGWE, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malawi has recorded at least 36 deaths and 37 injuries, with thousands of households displaced since the onset of the rains in September 2025, authorities have confirmed.
Disasters, mainly stormy rains, strong winds, flash floods, and lightning, have affected 29 councils in the country, including three cities, namely Blantyre, Zomba, and the national capital of Lilongwe, Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Wilson Moleni said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, 35,758 households (approximately 160,011 people) have been affected since Sept. 1, 2025, with the lakeshore district of Nkhotakota topping the list of affected councils, recording 10,772 affected households, 11 deaths, 2 missing persons, and 37 injuries.
Currently, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs is reaching out to the affected population with food and non-food items, while local search and recovery operations continue in Nkhotakota District.
The country's national search and rescue team remains on high alert, with standby arrangements for the deployment to councils at risk, according to the statement.
Over the past five years, Malawi has experienced several devastating tropical cyclones, including Cyclone Gombe in 2022, and Cyclone Freddy, the most severe, in 2023, which affected approximately 2.3 million people, caused 679 deaths, and left 537 people missing. ■
