STORY: :: Malawi says at least 13 people have died after four days of heavy rain and floods
:: Kaigwazanga, Malawi / March 19, 2026
:: Francis Kachilili, Kaigwazanga resident
"The floods caught us unawares. We were asleep in our houses only to find ourselves in the flooded water."
"Many houses have been submerged in water. People rushed to rooftops and some were in trees. A lot of property has been washed away including cattle, goats and other livestock. Some have even lost their cars."
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs said it had received preliminary reports from 16 of Malawi's 36 councils, with 9,598 households affected so far. Twelve evacuation camps have been set up in six councils, and aid distribution to affected families has begun.
The department said it was seeking financial support and technical assistance from local and international partners as search and rescue operations continue. It added that livestock and crops, including tobacco, had been washed away in some areas.
Malawi is one of the world's largest producers of burley tobacco and the crop is the country's main export.
