The floods and landslides at the weekend were caused by heavy rains which fell in the northern mountainous district of Rumphi, Victor Luhanga, an official from the ministry of agriculture, told AFP by telephone late Wednesday.

Luhanga said 530 hectares of much needed maize, rice, potatoes were destroyed, as well as hundreds of livestock.

He said Rumphi was now impassable after the floods destroyed 14 bridges and several roads.

"The situation is catastrophic," he said, calling for relief aid from government.

The floods also last week hampered operations of the country's only coal mine located in the district, reducing its production capacity by one third.

Malawi, the tiny but impoverished southern African country is just recovering from its worst famine which had threatened up to 3.6 million people.

A huge relief operation, marshalled by the World Food Programme (WFP) was launched last year to stave off famine.

SPACE.WIRE