On Monday, Malawi and Mozambique were grappling with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Freddy, which claimed the lives of over 100 individuals, injured numerous others, and left a path of destruction in southern Africa for the second time in a month.
The World Meteorological Organization has classified Freddy as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, with the potential to be the longest-lasting tropical cyclone. The storm initially struck central Mozambique on Saturday, tearing off roofs and causing extensive flooding in the vicinity of Quelimane port before moving inland toward Malawi, accompanied by heavy rainfall that triggered landslides.
The full extent of the damage and casualties in Mozambique remains uncertain, as power supplies and phone signals have been disrupted in some affected areas. In Malawi, the storm has killed 99 people, including 85 in the primary commercial center of Blantyre, according to Charles Kalemba, commissioner of the Department of Disaster Management Affairs. The overall death toll across Mozambique, Malawi, and Madagascar since Freddy’s first landfall last month is approximately 136.
By early afternoon, the central hospital in Blantyre had received at least 60 bodies, while around 200 injured individuals were being treated, according to Marion Pechayre, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) country director. Falling trees, landslides, and flash floods caused the injuries. Many of the affected homes were mud houses with tin roofs, which collapsed on the occupants.
Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya reported that rescue teams have been searching for individuals in Chilobwe and Ndirande, two of Blantyre’s hardest-hit townships, where rain persisted on Monday, and numerous residents were without power. Some missing individuals are feared to be buried beneath the rubble.
Malawi’s national electricity company EGENCO has reported unstable power generation capacity and two total system shutdowns on Monday. To protect them from damage, all major hydro power stations have been closed. At least ten people have died in Mozambique’s Zambezia province, with Nelson Ludovico, a provincial delegate from the National Institute of Disaster Risk Management, stating that the figures are provisional.
Health Minister Armindo Tiago described the situation in Zambezia province as critical and emphasized the difficulty of assessing the extent of the damage due to communication issues. Guy Taylor, the chief of advocacy, communications, and partnerships for UNICEF in Mozambique, expressed concerns over the ability of humanitarian agencies to handle a disaster of this magnitude.
Widespread flooding has destroyed crops and heightened the risk of waterborne diseases. Mozambique has experienced over a year’s worth of rainfall within the past four weeks. Malawi is also battling the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history, with UN agencies warning that the situation could worsen.
Scientists attribute the increase in tropical storm intensity to fossil fuel-driven climate change, as oceans absorb heat from greenhouse gas emissions and transfer heat energy to the atmosphere when warm seawater evaporates.
