The Zambian government has provided two aircraft to help in rescue and distribution of relief aid to victims of Tropical Storm Freddy in Malawi.

Malawi Defence Force confirmed on Thursday the arrival of the planes.

The aircraft will be deployed to hard-to-reach southern areas in Mulanje, Phalombe and Nsanje where many people are feared trapped, deputy chief of military operations Col Lameck Kalenga said.

Disaster management officials told a local news outlet that they have dispatched sniffer dogs to help find victims swept by mudslides.

The death toll from the devastating storm jumped to 326 on Thursday, with more than 200 others declared missing by the authorities.

President Lazarus Chakwera said some communities are yet to be reached.