Malawi floods death toll reaches 176

Death toll in devastating floods that have hit Malawi in past the two weeks has reached 176, Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima has told the media in Blantyre this afternoon.
Chilima who had just returned from visiting flood victims in Nsanje and Chikhwawa, two of the worst hit district in the Lower Shire River in southern Malawi said ‘the situation on the ground is terrible’.
He said evacuation efforts are underway but the country is short on rescue boats and helicopters.
“The military has started to rescue people, but we need more support,” he said at the news conference.
Chilima also said poor weather condition are hampering rescue efforts.
“Atleast some good news is that today we rescued a pregnant woman who later gave birth to a bouncy baby, that I have seen with my eyes,” said Chilima.
The Vice Pesident said initial assesment shows that the country will need Malawi kwacha 5 billion (about $10 million) for relief aid. The figure does not include rebuilding.