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Cyclone Freddy Leaves Hundreds Dead in Malawi and Mozambique

The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Freddy has passed 300, with authorities in Mozambique and Malawi taking several days to assess the extent of the damage and loss of life.

After first touching down in late February, the cyclone tore through Southern Africa over the weekend for a second time. One of the deadliest tropical storms in Africa in recent years, it has become one of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones ever recorded.

Authorities announced late on March 15 that at least 53 people died in the Zambezia region of Mozambique, more than doubling their earlier estimate. Malawi has so far recorded 225 fatalities, hundreds more injuries, and some still unaccounted for. Before hitting Mozambique again, the cyclone had killed about 27 people in Madagascar and Mozambique.

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has declared 14 days of mourning for the fatalities, and the government has promised $1.5 million in aid, as mudslides and flooding forced more than 20,000 families to leave their homes.

InFocus

Malawi Red Cross on Twitter

These aerial images have been captured on March 16, 2023, in Nsanje by a Malawi Red Cross drone.

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