Over 20,000 people affected by heavy floods in southern Malawi

Over 20,000 people have been displaced by heavy floo ds in Malawi's southern Lower Shire Valley district of Nsanje on the border with Mozambique, a senior government official said Monday

"It has been raining non-stop since the beginning of the year," said Nsanje Di strict Commissioner Toby Solomoni.

"A total number of 5,393 farming families have been affected in the sense that they have lost houses and crops such as rice, maize and cotton.

"The total number of hectares of farm lands lost is 1,618 and close to 86 vill ages have fallen victim of this loss," he said.

However, no person has been killed but several livestock, including chicken, g oats and cattle, have been washed away.

Solomoni said the extent of the damage could be worse since most villages were inaccessible.

"We can't reach some of the affected parts because bridges and roads have been destroyed," he said.

Solomoni said most of the displaced people are taking shelter in churches and schools but close to 700 farming families had set up temporary shelters on highe r ground.

Heavy rains have also caused flooding in the southern Lower Shire Valley distr ict of Chikwawa where four persons were killed as they tried to cross overflowing rivers.

Floods have also been reported in the southern district of Balaka, the central districts of Ntcheu and Salima and the northern district of Karonga.