A two-and-half-year-old girl and her one-year-old sister have drowned while crossing Nansanto River in Mangochi District.

The two are identified as Sakina and Shakira Sodo, respectively, and they met their fate while on their way home from a maize garden with their mother.

Mangochi Police Station Spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi said the incident occurred on the evening of 23 February 2025, at Mizinga Village, Traditional Authority Chiponde.

Reports indicate that the children had accompanied their mother to the maize garden, which requires crossing the Nansanto River. While returning home, they found the river swollen due to heavy rains that had fallen while they were in the garden.

As they attempted to cross, strong currents swept the children away. Local villagers launched a search and later retrieved both girls, but sadly, they were found lifeless.

The matter was reported to Chiponde Police Unit, which responded alongside medical personnel from Chiponde Health Centre. A postmortem examination confirmed that both minors died from suffocation.

Police in Mangochi have urged the public to exercise caution and avoid crossing flooded rivers or playing near swollen water bodies to prevent similar tragedies.

The deceased were from Mtondo Village, Traditional Authority Chiponde, Mangochi.