Deadly Storm Smashes Records, Leaves Trail of Devastation in Malawi and Mozambique
Month-Long Mega-Storm Breaks Records
The relentless storm, raging for a full month, has already smashed one record—and it’s on track to break two more, say meteorologists. Climate change is fuelling warmer oceans, pumping extra heat into the water’s surface. This supercharges storms, making them more powerful and deadly.
Death Toll Climbs as Mudslides Wreak Havoc
The death toll in Malawi stands grimly at 190, with hundreds more injured or missing. Mozambique is also counting losses, with at least 20 fatalities. Many lives were lost in mudslides ravaging Blantyre, Malawi’s second-biggest city. Torrential rains tore through communities, wiping away thousands of homes and uprooting trees. Huge ravines cut through roads, forcing locals to cross makeshift bridges while the downpours showed no mercy.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Search and rescue efforts are still in full swing as authorities struggle to assess total damage. Nearly 60,000 people have been affected, and around 19,000 have been forced from their homes, according to Malawi’s government. Urgent aid is needed for thousands left homeless and without essentials like food and clean water.
Storm Takes Bizarre Route Across Indian Ocean
What sets this catastrophe apart is Freddy’s bizarre journey. Starting off the coast, the storm barreled across the entire south Indian Ocean, covering over 8,000km (4,970 miles) before hitting Madagascar and Mozambique in late February. It then looped back to strike Mozambique again two weeks later and finally moved inland to Malawi. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed this track is unprecedented in the last 20 years—only a similar route in 2000 compares.
