The death toll from devastating floods that have hit Malawi over the past two weeks has reached 176, Vice-President Saulos Chilima said Friday.

“The number of deaths as of now is 176, but we have reports that those deemed missing have actually crossed the border into neighboring Mozambique,” Chilima said at a press conference.

Heavy rainfall in Malawi has swept many homes away and damaged thousands of hectares of agricultural crops.

Many people have lost livestock while residents in flood-hit areas have fled to higher ground. Others who have been counted among the missing have crossed the border into Mozambique.

The scale of the damage prompted President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday to declare a third of the country a “disaster zone” and issue an appeal for international relief efforts.

On Friday, Mutharika travelled to the southern Mangochi region, one of the areas hardest hit by the flooding, to assess the situation there.

“The situation on the ground is terrible,” Chilima said after visiting flood victims in Nsanje and Chikhwawa, two of the worst-hit districts in southern Malawi’s Lower Shire River region.

He noted that evacuation efforts were underway, but added that the country was short on rescue boats and helicopters.

“The military has started to rescue people, but we need more support,” he said at a press conference.

He added that poor weather conditions were hampering rescue efforts.

“The good news is that we rescued a pregnant woman today who later gave birth to a bouncy baby, which I saw with my own eyes,” Chilima said.

The vice president asserted that the country would need some 5 billion Malawi kwacha (roughly $10 million) in humanitarian assistance.

This figure, however, does not include funds needed for reconstruction.

A UN team has already arrived in Malawi to assess the damage.

Chilima said that 3,777 tents were required to accommodate those who had lost their homes in Nsanje and Chikhwawa, where some 85,000 and 40,000 people have been displaced by the flooding respectively.

“In total, we have 150,000 people in need of relief in these two districts. On the national level, the figure for the displaced is more than 200,000,” he said.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika on Friday visited the southern Mangochi region to assess damage caused by recent flooding, where he said he was “shocked” by the scale of the devastation.

“I am shocked at the damage. People are in need of help as soon as possible,” Mutharika told reporters during the visit.

He was quick, however, to assure flood victims that his government would spare no effort to help them.

“I want to assure you that there is goodwill from our friends and neighbors who are ready to assist you. My government has asked for help and you will get it,” Mutharika said, citing countries like Sweden, Botswana, South Africa and the U.S., all of which have signaled their readiness to assist flood-hit Malawi.

The Malawian leader warned corrupt government officials and aid workers not to siphon off assistance given to flood victims.

“No one should abuse the aid. Relief aid should go to the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

•Excerpted from an Anadolu Agency report. Photo shows a flood-devastated part of Malawi.

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