LILONGWE, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Floods in Malawi's southern lakeshore district of Mangochi have left over 6,000 people homeless, forcing local authorities to close schools and use them as shelter camps for the displaced.

    The floods, caused by persistent heavy rains in the past three days, have also swept away staple maize gardens and destroyed roads that link up one of the country's prime tourist areas.

    "These are the worst floods in 28 years to hit Mangochi district. Houses have collapsed, villages have been submerged in water, while crops, livestock and several bridges have been swept away," the district's Director of Planning and Development, Harry Chipeni, told Xinhua Wednesday.

    Chipeni said the displaced people had invaded schools, mosques and churches to seek shelter forcing authorities to close the schools until the flood victims were provided with other temporaryshelter.

    He said the government had not yet offered any immediate reliefassistance to the affected people, who were lacking food, shelter and medicine.

    "We are still compiling the figures of the victims but we hope the government will provide immediate assistance because we fear alikely cholera outbreak," he said. Enditem