Photo: malawi24.com

LILONGWE, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Flash floods had hit Malawi capital, Lilongwe, where more than 400 houses have been affected and over 1,500 people have been rendered helpless due to heavy rains since Dec. 31.

Spokesperson for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Chipiliro Khamula, confirmed the situation, saying the department was already providing humanitarian support to the affected people.

"We have had flash floods in about 6 locations in the capital and we still had heavy rains on the night of Thursday through Friday which left some key rivers in the capital flooded," Khamula told Xinhua in an interview Friday.

He added, "The rains from Tuesday, December 31 to Thursday night through Friday, Jan. 3, have left behind 403 houses damaged and 1,519 people affected with some of them seeking shelter in public school blocks."

The DoDMA spokesperson said the country's Vice President, Everton Chimulirenji would be visiting those affected by the flash flood to offer them comfort and relief items.

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported so far.