At least 70 people have died in Malawi and Mozambique from torrential rains and strong winds caused by Cyclone Freddy, which follows an unusual looping path and returned to southern Africa, local authorities said Monday.
“Sixty-six people have died in Malawi, 93 have been injured and 16 are missing due to the tropical cyclone freddy“Tweeted the Red Cross, which is assisting in search and rescue operations.
At the same time, four other people died in neighboring Mozambique due to heavy rains that caused flooding, local authorities said.
Mozambique’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) said the consequences of the second storm to make landfall in the country were worse than expected. “The number of people affected exceeded forecasts”declared the director of the INGD, Luisa Meque, and said that the storm also hit areas “considered safe.”
Freddy crossed southern Africa for the second time in a few weeks over the weekend, reappearing after a first impact in late February, and arrived in Malawi early Monday after sweeping through Mozambique over the weekend, the AFP agency reported. .
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the UN, the cyclone – which formed off the northwest of Australia in the first week of February – it was to become the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded.
The cyclone also traversed the entire southern Indian Ocean, hitting Madagascar from February 21 before reaching Mozambique on February 24.
66 people have died in Malawi, 93 injured and 16 people are missing due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy that has affected over 2115 by Monday 13 March. @MalawiGovt have confirmed through @DisasterDept. @MalawiRedCross is conducting Search and Rescue, First Aid and Hospital evacuation. pic.twitter.com/Wo4MU9HxS3
—Malawi Red Cross Society (@MalawiRedCross) March 13, 2023
