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- Cyclone Freddy has taken a heavy toll in Malawi and Mozambique, on its return trail, killing more than 100 people. On its return to southern Africa’s mainland, the cyclone caused devastation across both countries. The cyclone is the longest lasting one in the recent times
Cyclone Freddy has taken a heavy toll in Malawi and Mozambique, on its return trail, killing more than 100 people. On its return to southern Africa’s mainland, the cyclone caused devastation across both countries. The cyclone is the longest lasting one in recent times.
Cyclone has lashed southern Africa in February. The highest toll was in Malawi, leading to 99 loss of lives. Mudslides caused overnight washed away houses, where occupants were sleeping. In all probability, authorities maintain that the toll may rise. According to some reports, around 134 people were injured and 16 people missing due to the cyclone.
The UN estimates say that more than 11,000 people were affected by the cyclone. Malawi is grappling with the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history, which already had taken a toll of 1600 people last year. Cyclones are likely to exacerbate the spread of water borne diseases including Cholera. Malawi has declared a state of disaster in the southern region, where a cyclone has wrecked civic life. In the meantime, President Lazarus Chakwera is in Doha attending a Least Developed Countries meeting.
Malawi has appealed to the international community for aid to tackle the double whammy of outbreak of Cholera and atrocities created by the Freddy, which lashed out in the second time with more intensity. Schools and other educational institutions in the southern part of the country will remain closed. National carrier Malawi Airlines’ all flights to Blantyre have been cancelled until further notice. This decision was taken after an inbound plane ran into the bad weather and was forced to return to the capital Lilongwe.
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In the meantime, at least 10 people died and 14 were wounded in neighbouring Mozambique. The Mozambique National Institute for Disaster Management said the fallout from the storm’s second landfall in the country was severe. Freddy, which formed off north-western Australia in the first week of February. It is the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record and crossed the entire southern Indian Ocean. After hitting Madagascar on February 21, it stormed into Mozambique on February 24.
