03/13/2023 22:31 (act. 03/13/2023 22:40)
Perhaps the longest-lasting cyclone since February 6 ©APA/UNICEF
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Tropical Storm “Freddy” is on track to set a new record as the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record. On Monday, the death toll from the storm rose to more than 100, including 99 in Malawi, in southeastern Africa. The cyclone formed off the northwest coast of Australia on Feb. 6 and has continued to wreak havoc ever since.
After crossing the entire southern Indian Ocean, “Freddy” hit Madagascar on February 21 and Mozambique on February 24, causing great devastation. In a rare “loop”, it returned to Madagascar last week with even more force and more rain, before reaching Mozambique again on Saturday night and finally Malawi on Monday.
At least 99 people have died in Malawi alone, according to the national civil protection agency. At least four people died in Mozambique during the storm’s second pass, bringing the total death toll to 14. In Madagascar, a total of 17 people died.
However, the death toll is likely to be much higher, as information transmission is severely restricted due to infrastructure damage. According to authorities, many people are still missing.
For example, the Mozambican port city of Quelimane is still largely isolated from the outside world: roads are closed, water supply and electricity partially affected, said Guy Taylor, local spokesman for the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF in a telephone conversation with the AFP news agency. According to forecasts, “Freddy” is likely to go out to sea again during the week and weaken in doing so.