At least 48 people have been killed and around 23,000 forced from their homes by heavy flooding in Malawi, the country’s leader said on Tuesday, the BBC reports.
President Peter Mutharika has declared a third of the country a disaster zone and urgently appealed for foreign aid.
Reports from neighbouring Mozambique said a group of 25 schoolchildren were swept away by floodwater on Monday.
Heavy regional rain began last month and forecasters say they expect it to continue over the coming days.
Mr Mutharika said his government alone did not have the money to cope.
Homes and crops in Malawi were destroyed by the rising torrents while roads and railways have also been cut off.
According to the city’s police spokesman, Elizabeth Divala, search teams are still looking for two children who went missing during the floods.
The rising waters have been caused by late summer storms in the region.
