Cyclone Freddy – death toll rising in Mozambique

According to official stats, the death toll in Mozambique rose to 63 people, after Cyclone Freddy made its return to southern Africa’s mainland.

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NUMBERS RELEASED BY DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY

The deaths were recorded in the northeastern province of Zambezia, according to figures released by the country disaster management agency.

Mozambique “urgently” needs to “mobilise financial resources to restore destroyed infrastructure”, President Filipe Nyusi said, asking for local and international aid.

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“In this second wave of Cyclone Freddy, Zambezia province was the most affected. Unfortunately we have to report so far 53 deaths in this province,” Nyusi said after visiting Zambezia. The storm has claimed 10 lives during its first coming last month.

More than 49 000 people have been displaced, while 280 people were left injured during Freddy’s return.

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CYCLONE FREDDY RETURNED THIS WEEKEND TO SOUTHEAST AFRICA

Freddy returned to southeastern Africa this past weekend for a second time in less than three weeks. After sweeping through Mozambique, Cyclone Freddy went into Malawi early Monday morning, killing at least 225 people there.

Malawi’s government said that at least 190 people were killed, while 584 were left injured and 37 were reported missing. Authorities in neighbouring Mozambique reported 21 deaths and 24 injured.

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RESCUE MISSIONS UNDERWAY

On Wednesday rescuers tried to reach survivors in Malawi after Cyclone Freddy struck southern Africa for a second time.

Rescue workers warned that they are expecting to find more victims as they are looking through destroyed neighbourhoods for survivors. The government said the army and police were leading search and rescue operations.

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Cyclone Freddy reached Malawi early on Monday morning after sweeping through Mozambique at the weekend.

It has become the longest-lasting storm on record. Freddy has swept through southern Africa this weekend for the second time within a few weeks, making a comeback after a first hit in late February.