By Joseph Dumbula
At least 13 individuals have died as a result of severe rainfall and flooding that affected various regions of Malawi from March 15 to 18, 2026.
In a statement released by Wilson Moleni, the Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) reported that 9,598 households have been impacted, with 128 individuals displaced and 35 injuries recorded to date.
DoDMA has initiated the distribution of relief aid to the affected households. Local councils are undertaking comprehensive assessments to determine the full extent of the damage and will provide detailed reports in due course.
Meanwhile, the department is calling on development partners, including both local and international non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, to contribute to the ongoing response efforts by providing relief items, financial assistance, technical support, and search and rescue operations in the impacted areas.
Preliminary reports have been received from 16 councils, which include Blantyre City and District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Karonga, Lilongwe District, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Phalombe, and Zomba City and District.
