tropical storm “Freddie”which hit the southeast Africa, claimed the lives of at least 522 people in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique. These are the official data of the governments of these countries, reported on Saturday, March 18, the dpa agency.
Most of the victims are in Malawi, the smallest of the three countries and one of the poorest in the world. The authorities of this country report 438 dead. About 345 thousand more people were affected by heavy rains, floods and landslidesthat “Freddie” brought with him. Tens of thousands became homeless. A state of emergency has been declared in the south of the country.
In Mozambique, according to President Felipe Nyusi, at least 67 people died due to the storm. The government of Madagascar estimates the minimum number of victims at 17 people.
The longest storm
Formed over Indian Ocean Tropical Storm Freddy made landfall on February 21, first in Madagascar. Then he moved across the strait to the continent, and then “returned” to the island – to again fall on Mozambique and Malawi on March 11. Thus, it has been raging for more than a month, and, according to the World Meteorological Organization, is likely to become the longest storm on record. It was declared a cyclone on February 6th.
The cyclone season in South Africa begins in January and ends in March-April.
See also:
