Although Cyclone Freddy has dissipated, news of the destruction the heavy storm caused is beginning to filter in.
Hitting Madagascar on 21 February, the heavy storm then struck Mozambique and Malawi, before doubling back on all three countries. The cyclone is the longest-lasting storm on record, as well as having the most energy ever recorded in a cyclone. Storms gain energy through heat, and ‘a hotter world means more energy to power storms,’ reported Mail&Guardian.
READ: Rainfall expected to intensify when Cyclone Freddy makes landfall
News24 reported that 438 deaths have been recorded so far in Malawi. Mozambique has seen 67 deaths, while 17 people are recorded dead in Madagascar, according to Al Jazeera. These figures are expected to rise as communication within and from the countries begins to improve.
Malawi experienced the brunt of the storm, experiencing the equivalent of six months of rain in six days. Parts of the country remain inaccessible to rescue services, telecommunication, and electricity.
An Al Jazeera reporter in Malawi explained how hundreds of people are waiting for police services. ‘They have had to seek refuge in trees. Their homes have washed away and they also don’t have any food. It will certainly be at least a few more days before a bigger dent is made in terms of rescuing people in places like this, which has been very difficult up until now.’
President Lazarus Chakwera has already declared a 14-day national mourning period.
To make matters even worse, both Mozambique and Malawi have been experiencing one of the worst cholera outbreaks in ten years. Cyclone Freddy is now exacerbating the spread of the water-borne disease.
Pictures: GettyImages
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ: Cyclone Freddy is now longest-lasting cyclone on record
