At least three people have been killed in Malawi as flooding continues to ravage southern Africa. Zambia declared a national disaster Thursday, according to AP. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa made the announcement during a visit to flood-stricken southern Zambia, the state-run broadcaster reported. About 35 flood-related deaths have been reported in the region with authorities and aid agencies fearing this toll will rise as more rain is expected. Torrential rains in Zambia and Zimbabwe have swollen the mighty Zambezi river _ Africa's fourth longest _ to well above the flood limit, with valleys in Malawi and Mozambique bearing the brunt as the waters hurtle down toward the Indian Ocean. Lowford Palani, district commissioner Chikwawa, in Malawi's southern Lower Shire Valley, said the three people died as they tried to cross flooded rivers. He said heavy rains continue falling daily, destroying houses and large tracts of crop fields. Livestock has also been lost. «We are yet to determine how many people have been displaced because our assessment officers are failing to reach several villages as roads and bridges have been destroyed,» he said. Palani said tents are being erected to house displaced people while the Department of Disaster Preparedness has warned of more flooding in the Lower Shire Valley. In Zambia, where one death has been reported, Mwanawasa appealed Wednesday for international aid, saying the country would not be able to shoulder the burden of reconstruction alone. With another two months of the rainy season _ and the peak only expected in mid-February _ flooding in central Mozambique is expected to be more extensive than in 2001 when 800 people died. But Mozambican authorities are optimistic they could keep loss of life to a minimum_ seven flood-related deaths have been reported so far _ thanks to their disaster prevention strategy which say planning begin last October. Zimbabwe, where 27 people died, has reportedly seen the heaviest rains since colonial era records. With chronic shortages of hard currency and the world's highest inflation, the country's rescue services are ill-equipped to cope.
