Heavy rains in Malawi kill 48, leave 1000s displaced

Blantyre - Malawi's president says heavy flooding
in the southern African country has killed 48
people and left another 23 000 displaced.
President Peter Mutharika declared 10 out of 28
districts in the country disaster zones on Tuesday.
Planning officer Grey Mkwanda said some of the
victims died when villages were flooded in the
southern Mangoche district, about 100km south of
the commercial capital, Blantyre. Livestock, crops
and homes were swept away by flood waters.
Others died in Blantyre when their homes
collapsed, according to Mkwanda.
Mutharika has appealed to the international
community for assistance for the impoverished
country.
Officials were unable to visit the affected areas due
to continuing poor weather.