Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) says 40 people have died and 36 283 households, representing about 163 274 people, have been affected by stormy rains, strong winds, flash floods and lightning since the start of the 2025-26 rainy season. A statement issued yesterday signed by Commissioner Wilson Moleni indicates that out of the 40 deaths, 23 were caused by lightning and 17 by collapsing walls while 209 people sustained injuries. Dodma f ur ther says Nkhotakota is the worst-hit district, with 2 132 affected households, representing about 10 912 displaced people.
The statement also says 14 camps were established, out of which 13 have been decommissioned af ter famil ies received resettlement packages. Meanwhile, Dodma has launched the Nkhotakota Floods Emergency Response Plan budgeted at K8.6 billion to restore services and prevent secondary disasters. Reads the statement in part: “To date, K4.6 billion has been mobilised, leaving a resource gap of K4 billion.
In view of this, the department calls upon the international donor community, United Nations agencies, foreign missions, non- governmental organisations, the private sector, the clergy and all individuals of goodwill to support this noble cause.” Civil Society Network on Climate Change coordinator Julius Ngoma warned that relocations must prioritise safe land to prevent repeated flooding. So far, the disasters have affected 29 councils which include Balaka, Blantyre City, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe City and District, Likoma, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mzimba, Neno, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba City and Zomba District. The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services warned of normal to above-normal rainfall in flood-prone areas in December, February, and March, signalling potential flooding.
