The Malawian government has ordered the closure of schools in 10 districts amid safety concerns in the wake of a deadly Cyclone Freddy that has claimed at least 11 lives and left 16 persons missing in the commercial capital Blantyre.
Ministry of Education permanent secretary Chikondano Mussa said the decision to close schools on Monday and Tuesday followed warnings by weather experts that Tropical Cyclone Freddy would cause devastation in the districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Phalombe, Blantyre, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Mwanza, Neno and Zomba in Southern Province.
“Therefore, as a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Education is temporarily suspending physical classes in all learning institutions in the aforementioned districts on Monday, 13th March and Tuesday, 14th March,” Mussa said.
The decision to suspend lessons comes as the police reported that at least 11 people have died and 16 other are missing after Cyclone Freddy triggered floods and landslides around the second largest city Blantyre.
According to reports monitored here, police spokesperson Peter Kalaya warned that the number of people killed and missing could be higher since available figures were only for Blantyre although the cyclone had affected several other areas.
He said rescue teams were looking for people in Chilobwe and Ndirande, two of the worst affected townships in Blantyre, where it was still raining on Monday and most residents were without power.
Freddy caused devastation in neighbouring Mozambique at the weekend before weakening as it moved inland towards Malawi.
JN/APA