After tearing through southern Africa for the second time in a month, Cyclone Freddy, one of the most violent storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, has killed more than 190 people in Malawi, according to the Malawian government on Tuesday.
Roads and bridges were devastated by severe water and rain, which complicated relief efforts. Moreover, Freddy left a path of devastation in Mozambique, where it touched down over the weekend. There were more than 22,000 people looking for shelter away from their houses.
In Blantyre, one of the hardest hit towns, weeping families lined up at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital mortuary to pick up the bodies of their deceased loved ones.
On Saturday, Freddy pounded central Mozambique, tearing off roofs and creating extensive flooding near the port of Quelimane before heading inland toward Malawi.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to the governments and people of Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar who have been impacted by Cyclone Freddy on behalf of the government and people of South Africa.
“As the Government and people of South Africa, we are saddened by the loss of human life, livestock, infrastructure and property experienced by our sister nations.
“Our thoughts are with the many families who have lost loved ones in this disaster and we share the wishes of the people of Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar that these extreme weather incidents will subside so that recovery and rebuilding efforts can proceed,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.