Malawi Declared Disaster Zone After Flooding Kills 48 and Torrential Rain Continues

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has officially declared more than half the country a disaster zone and called for international help after torrential downpours led to flooding that has killed at least 48 people and left thousands more homeless.

Another seven victims reportedly died in the commercial capital of Blantyre today after their homes collapsed due to ongoing severe rain.

So far the Malawian government has allocated US $1 million to support flood victims, but in a statement made late on Tuesday, Mutharika also appealed for foreign aid. "Since most of the areas are inaccessible and considering the large number of displaced households, additional resources are required to provide assistance to all the affected people," stated the head of the southern African country.

"I appeal for humanitarian assistance, from the international donor community, the relevant United Nations agencies, the non-governmental organizations, the local private sector as well as all fellow citizens of goodwill, so that, together, we can contribute in alleviating suffering on the part of people affected by the floods," Mutharika said.

It is estimated that the flooding has displaced around 70,000 Malawians and uprooted around 14,000 households. The water has caused roads to become inaccessible and cut off railways, leaving residents unable to escape their flooded districts.

Efforts are now being focused on rescuing stranded civilians and helping victims find temporary shelter. The Malawi Defense Force has confirmed they are sending boats to the flood stricken regions to help with rescue operations.

Grey Mkwanda, a district planning officer, told the Associated Press the measures that Malawians were taking to escape flooding: "People have fled into schools and churches on the higher ground, others are in the open because there is not enough space."

The rising torrents have also wreaked a catastrophic effect on hectares of Malawi's agriculture, sweeping away livestock and damaging crops.

With agriculture accounting for 85 percent of Malawi's export revenues, the devastation to farmland caused by the flooding will threat to cause economic damage to the country's steadily growing GDP.

Jeffrey Luhanga, principal secretary for Agriculture and Food Security in Malawi, confirmed that October's delayed rains had caused deterioration to 2015's crops, adding that, "prolonged heavy rains may worsen the situation".

This humanitarian disaster comes in the wake of downpours in neighboring Mozambique, which swept away 25 schoolchildren on Monday. Eighteen other people have also been reported missing and are still unaccounted for. The Mozambique government has since declared a "red alert" for the central and northern areas most badly affected.

While Malawi's rainy season typically begins in October and ends in April, late arriving summer rains are believed to have caused the current severe conditions. Forecasters from Malawi's Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services are warning that heavy rain is set to continue for the weeks ahead.

Assessment of the impact the flooding has caused has not yet been carried out, as officials have been unable to reach the affected areas due to the poor weather conditions.

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