Egenco said six kids from surrounding villages aged 2-4 were playing at the pond, which is on Shire River at the upstream of the power station.

“Unfortunately four kids drowned<” Egenco said, adding that details of what transpired were sketchy.

The bodies were recovered after the pond level was lowered.

Egenco generates most of its power from four stations located on the Shire River, the only outlet of Lake Malawi.