provisional death toll rises to over 100 in Malawi and Mozambique

Hurricane Freddy, “extraordinary” because it made a loop rarely observed by meteorologists, killed more than 100 people in Malawi and Mozambique on its way back to hit southern Africa, authorities in these two countries said on Monday (March 13).

At least 99 people have died and dozens more injured in Malawi after an overnight mudslide swept away homes and buried residents. The poor country’s disaster management agency said it expected an even heavier toll. At least 10 people have died and 14 others injured in neighboring Mozambique, according to local authorities.

The region of Malawi’s economic capital, Blantyre, where residents searched for survivors in the mud with their bare hands or with shovels, alone recorded 85 deaths. Malawi has declared a state of disaster in several southern parts of the country, including Blantyre. More than 11,000 people have been displaced by the storm in the country, according to the United Nations.

The cyclone should start again and weaken during the week

On the way to being classified as the longest cyclone ever recorded by meteorologists, Freddy had already affected Madagascar and Mozambique at the end of February. The toll was then 17 dead, thousands displaced and houses devastated. Returning to the region last week following an unprecedented loop trajectory, it first fell on Madagascar for the second time in two weeks, killing 10 people. Then he came back to hit Mozambique on Saturday night.

The cyclone which was accompanied by strong winds and torrential rains then moved overnight from Sunday to Monday towards neighboring Malawi, causing flooding and major mudslides. Schools in the country among the poorest in the world have been closed in much of the south. Freddy should go back to sea during the week and weaken, according to forecasts.