21 people have died due to stormy rains since the onset of the 2022-23 rainfall season, authorities said Thursday.

Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Charles Kalemba said out of the deaths, lightning strikes have killed 15 people while six died due to collapsed walls following stormy rains.

Kalemba said so far, 59 people have sustained various degree of injuries. Cumulatively, 6,934 households have been affected in 23 councils.

“Currently, the department has reached out to 5,858 households (approximately 26,361 people and representing 84 per cent of the total number of affected people) with relief assistance,” Kalemba said in a statement.

“Provision of relief assistance on-going and the department will reach out to all the affected people as per the reports from affected councils.”