"Severe floods have hit Dwangwa city near the famous Lake Malawi, killing at least four, displacing thousands and disrupting key infrastructure. Footage filmed on Friday shows numerous vehicles stranded on the road after part of the bridge was completely destroyed. Left without other means to reach other shores, people use canoes and makeshift bridges. “We don’t have a clue as to when we will leave this place. We can go back because the place is too small to turn the trucks back, so we are stuck,” truck driver Sam Suzumila said. The country’s vital M5 road, or Lakeshore Road, which connects the south and north and stretches along Lake Malawi, was closed. Additionally, natural disasters deteriorated power and water systems, leaving many without clean water and electricity for almost a week. “We are depending on underground water through the boreholes, and it’s not safe for people. We see a lot of people having diarrhoea because the water is not safe and it’s very dirty,” Dwangwa resident Chifundo Malunga commented. The flood displaced dozens of people in the city, forcing them to search for shelter at Dwangwa Primary School.  “Life is tough here at the camp because we do not have proper meals. As you can see, six or 10 people are sharing one room,” flood victim Precious Pemba noted. Disasters triggered by incessant rains over past weeks have affected more than 42,000 people across the country. Four people died when their canoe capsized as they attempted to cross the Dwangwa River, while 101 injuries have been recorded. In a Facebook post on Friday, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah, described the situation in the country as ‘deeply saddening’. The Vice President declared that search and rescue operations are ongoing, calling on the nation to be ‘vigilant’."