At least 99 people were known to have died after Cyclone Freddy hit southern Malawi on Monday.
The Malawian Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) Commissioner Charles Kalemba confirmed the development.
Blantyre, the country’s commercial capital, has been particularly hard hit by the disaster with over 85 people killed.
Another 134 were reportedly left critically injured across ten districts, according to Kalemba.
Meanwhile, the devastation also forced the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to postpone a women’s match between Ntopwa and Evirom.
This was after incessant rains halted operations and rendered the Chiwembe Stadium, the match venue’s artificial turf unplayable.
FAM issued a statement that the National Women’s Football Championship match was postponed on Sunday.
“The match will be played on Tuesday, March 14, 2022, at the same venue. Kick-off time remains 14:30 hours,” the Association said in a statement on Monday.
The match, however, is unlikely to be played on Tuesday as the relevant authorities have warned that the incessant rains will continue., according to Nyasa Times.
Is the Malawi vs Egypt match affected by Cyclone Freddy’s effects?
President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a state of disaster in the 10 districts of the Southern Region which are heavily affected by Cyclone Freddy.
The affected districts include Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Thyolo, Phalom, and Zomba.
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This means sports events including football have been suspended in those regions until further notice.
Meanwhile, the Malawi National Team is also set to host Egypt later this month on the 24th of March 2023 for their Group D Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match.
However, reports of the match being postponed have not been confirmed by FAM.
But BolaNews understands the match may go ahead as planned because the venue, Bingu stadium, is in Lilongwe, which was not affected by the disaster.
