A firefighter from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has been deployed to Malawi in the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy, which has killed hundreds and caused landslides and flooding.
Crew Manager Jim Davison left the county on Saturday morning (March 18) as part of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team.
UKISAR was established in 1993, is made up of 14 fire and rescue services, and helps to deal with the aftermath of disasters around the world.
The team of 27 will support Malawian authorities in the search for survivors of the floods, assisted by specialist equipment which includes lightweight, nimble boats and a drone team.
Support will also include providing shelter and water to thousands of people hit by flooding.
Chief fire officer Justin Johnston said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the cyclone in Malawi which has caused widespread landslides and flooding.
“Crew Manager Jim Davison is not long back from Turkey after supporting the rescue effort following the earthquakes there, which demonstrates how dedicated to responding to humanitarian disasters around the world at a moment’s notice Jim and all the UKISAR team are.
“They will be working in very difficult circumstances but are exceptionally skilled and equipped to rescue people who may still be trapped. I have no doubt their support will save lives and I wish them a safe deployment.”
Cyclone Freddy made landfall in Mozambique on March 11 and Malawi on March 12.
More than 300 people have died and parts of the region remain inaccessible.
The flooding is thought to have displaced more than 180,000 people and the UKISAR team will be working with Malawian authorities to rescue those stranded by the high flood waters.
President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a 14-day national mourning period.
Mathew Pickard, regional director for southern Africa at the aid organisation Care International, said: “Roads and bridges have been swept away, cutting off communities from much-needed support.
"Houses and homes have been destroyed, leaving families stranded and out in the cold. As rescue efforts continue, the death toll is anticipated to rise.”
In Malawi, where a cholera outbreak was already ongoing when Freddy ripped through the country, deaths from the disease and other water-borne illnesses are also expected to rise.
“We’ve been without running water for the past four days and water will become contaminated,” said Andrew Mavala, executive director of the Malawi Network for Older Persons. “This is a huge concern.”
Hundreds of people have been moved to camps but food and clean water is still scarce, he added, with dozens of older people who do not know how they will recover.
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