Firefighters train Malawians to prepare for floods

Firefighters trained Malawians how to be better prepared to tackle flood emergencies

Three firefighters from the London Fire Brigade have helped train first responders in Malawi how to be better prepared to tackle flood emergencies.

The trio's deployment comes after Tropical Storm Freddy ripped through southern Africa, killing hundreds of people, two years ago.

About 60 Malawian delegates spent a fortnight learning skills, including how to treat people who have been in the water for a long time, search and rescue response coordination and how to perform water rescues from a power boat.

Ian Simpson, the brigade's International Search and Rescue (ISAR) coordinator, said he was always ready to share his skills "to help save lives".

The station commander was part of the UK's ISAR team that flew out to Malawi in March 2023 to help with the cyclone rescue efforts.

He said he felt he had "built an affinity with the people and the country" and the latest visit was a "real opportunity to add value".

"It's a country accustomed to having lots of rain and cyclone seasons, but Cyclone Freddy was the longest-lasting tropical storm on record lasting for 36 days," he said.

"Sadly, with climate change, this type of disaster is probably going to be more prevalent in many parts of the world."

Three of the firefighters on the Malawi deployment were from the London Fire Brigade

Mr Simpson was joined by station officer Alastair Hislop, who had accompanied him on the deployment to Bangula in southern Malawi two years ago, and firefighter Sarah Mimnagh.

The training took place on the shores of Lake Malawi in the eastern region.

As part of the training, delegates learned how to perform water rescues from a power boat

"We taught local agencies about disaster risk management but also how to be more strategic with resources when a disaster, like floods, hit," said Mr Simpson.

"The teams we met out there were really receptive to our expertise and were fully engaged in everything we had to teach them both on the boats and in the classroom."

Mr Simpson, who has been part of the UK ISAR team for five years, added: "It sounds like a cliché but being able to help people really is the reason for doing this type of work."