Cyclone Freddy wrecks Malawi, Mozambique, leaves 2...

Cyclone Freddy wrecks Malawi, Mozambique, leaves 238 dead

Zim Now Writer

Cyclone Freddy, by far one of the severest storms to hit the southern hemisphere, has so far killed over 199 people in Malawi alone as heavy rains triggered floods and mudslides.

Cyclone Freddy has killed a total of over 220 in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar as it ripped through the three countries in a rare second landfall and the death toll is still expected to rise.

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera subsequently declared a state of disaster in the southern regions and the commercial capital Blantyre, which is one of the worst-hit in the country.

Cyclone Freddy is a part of the 2022-23 Australia region and South West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons that formed on February 4, reaching a peak of 270km/h. It weakened a bit before gathering strength as it made landfall in Madagascar on February 21.

Preceded by the less destructive Cyclones Batsirai and Cheneso, Cyclone Freddy’s initial landfall into Zimbabwe brought strong winds and rains which were not as heavy as had earlier been anticipated although several schools had closed as a precautionary measure.

In southern Malawi, over 19 000 people have been displaced, while Madagascar recorded 299 000; Reunion (25 000) and Mozambique (267 600), giving a cumulative total of 611 600.

In terms of fatalities, Cyclone Freddy has killed at least 238 people with Madagascar recording 17 deaths, Malawi (199); Mozambique (20) and Zimbabwe (2).

Cyclone Freddy also caused strong winds, especially in Manicaland Province and heavy rains that reached as far as parts of Masvingo Province with totals reaching 102mm in Nyanga and 97mm at Mukandi while crops were affected in Chipinge and Chiredzi.

With memories of Cyclone Idai of March 2019 still fresh in people’s memories, Cyclone Freddy has become the longest lasting cyclone worldwide having lasted over five weeks.

As the total damage is still being quantified, the overall death toll is estimated at over 238 since Freddy made landfall in February.

A provincial manager for humanitarian organisation ForAfrika in Mozambique, Alcidio Benjamin said that Sofala and Zambezia provinces were badly affected in the latest hit.

He said 22 000 people or 4 000 families were seeking shelter in Zambezia province at accommodation centres as of Monday.

“We are expecting that (those) numbers will increase because there are inaccessible areas due to the floods. Some vehicles can’t go through the roads,” Benjamim said.

Freddy was expected to sweep through Zambezia Province again, bringing more rains and winds.