The Shire River burst its banks on January 16, 2022, causing flood waters to overwhelm the city of Chikwawa, Malawi's third largest city with a population of about 1 million. The rains were quite destructive in some areas along the Shire River, especially around Nchalo in Chikwawa. Malawi's Department of Disaster Management said 20 houses were completely swept away by floodwaters and another 80 were severely damaged. As a result, at least 320 people were displaced. In total, about 1,000 households were affected. The authorities distributed humanitarian aid to the affected communities. The flash floods were exacerbated by the careless disposal of waste by the trading communities along the River Shire. Chief Relief and Rehabilitation Specialist Natasha Mbengo said the department noticed a lot of waste dumping in Chikwawa County, with carpenters throwing sawdust into the Shire River, causing the bridge to be blocked. “We have advised the City Council to raise awareness of the malpractice. We also advised
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