Incessant rains during the Christmas holiday triggered floods in seven districts and killed a child in Nsanje, authorities said yesterday. The heavy rains also displaced thousands of families while damaging houses and crops, according to Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma). Preliminary reports indicate that Chiradzulu, Dowa, Blantyre, Machinga, Nsanje, Karonga and Chikwawa are the affected districts.
In an interview yesterday, Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said the three-year-old was washed away while attempting to cross a flooded river in Nsanje after water levels rose rapidly. “Except for the single fatality, the rains have mainly caused damage to houses and crops,” he said. Khamula said district councils are in the meantime conducting assessments to determine the extent of the damage to inform the kind of immediate assistance needed.
He said Dodma and district authorities are on high alert, with local search and rescue teams activated and national teams on standby for possible deployment. Khamula said traditional authority-level disaster committees have also been alerted to closely monitor developments and report emergencies to councils. Meanwhile, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has warned of continued rains and heightened flooding risks as the rainy season persists.
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The department’s director Lucy Mtilatila said the seasonal outlook shows normal to above-normal rainfall in many areas between October and December 2025, extending into early 2026. However, she cautioned communities to prepare for uneven rainfall distribution. “Do not let the rainfall season catch you unprepared.
Your safety is our top priority. Let us be vigilant together,” said Mtilatila. Dodma data show that hundreds of households have been affected by weather-related incidents this rainy season, including flash floods, strong winds and lightning, disrupting livelihoods and infrastructure, particularly in southern and central Malawi. Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to avoid crossing fast-flowing rivers and streams and to follow daily weather updates as rains continue.
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