The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) says the death toll from natural disaster since the onset of 2023/24 rainy season has risen to eight from the previous reported five.

According to commissioner for disaster management affairs Charles Kalemba, the deaths were caused by lightning strikes and floods whist the total number of injuries remain at 46.

The statement adds that the number of affected households has also risen.

Reads the statement: “The number of affected households has risen from 4,751 (as reported in our statement dated January 9, 2024) to 4,989, which is approximately 22,450 people.

DoDMA has stressed that provision of relief assistance is on-going and DoDMA, in collaboration with various humanitarian partners.

“Currently, the department has reached out to 4,868 households, (approximately 21,906 people and representing 97 per cent of the total number of the affected) with food and non-food items, which include maize, beans, blankets, pails and plastic sheets,” the statement reads.

“Provision of relief assistance is on-going and the department, in collaboration with various humanitarian partners, will reach out to all the affected people as per the reports from affected councils.”

Since the onset of the rainy season to date, DoDMA says disasters; mainly stormy rains, strong winds, floods and lightning, have affected 20 councils namely: Balaka, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dowa, Kasungu District, Lilongwe District, Machinga, Mangochi District, Mulanje, Mchinji, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Ntcheu, Nsanje, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo and Zomba City.