Three people are missing in Nsanje after they drowned in the Shire River when their dug-out canoe which they were sailing in capsized Monday.

Nsanje Police Spokesperson sergeant Agnes Zalakoma confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

According to Zalakoma, nine people were traveling on water using a canoe to cross the crocodile-infested Shire from Mozambique to Malawi where they were doing farming activities.

Sergeant Zalakoma said when they were approaching a docking area called Nyamula, the canoe capsized and the three are feared died.

The three have been identified as 9 months old baby Melifa, her mother Esther Yolamu from Navaya village and Joe Jimu, 28 years of Nyamula village Senior Chief Tengani.

Meanwhile police have intensified the search.