Cyclone Freddy makes 2nd landfall in Mozambique, hundreds displaced

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) - Hundreds of people have been displaced as Cyclone Freddy hammered Mozambique late Saturday for a second time in one month.

One person was reported dead, bringing the total number of fatalities to 28, while 27 people were killed in the first landfall in Mozambique and Madagascar.

According to the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least half a million people are at risk of being affected in Mozambique with 171,000 known to have been displaced.

“We have seen houses, hospitals, schools getting damaged by falling trees, strong winds and people are now in a very difficult situation at the moment. There are efforts on the way as UNICEF has partnered with other UN partners and government to ensure that there is continuity in giving support to these people, especially in the homes and evacuation centers which were opened,” Guy Tailor, UNICEF spokesperson said in a statement.

Tailor noted that floods are posing a potential health disaster, adding: “What we are concerned about is the ongoing rainfall, most parts of this region are flooded, especially the countryside. That poses a greater risk of an outbreak of water-borne diseases like cholera.”

After passing the port town of Quelimane, the storm continued inland towards the southern tip of neighboring Malawi and by Sunday afternoon, serious floods and heavy winds were reported in the Mulanje district and heavy rains and flooding also resulted in blown-off roofs, power outages, as well as flooding in Blantyre.

In Mozambique, there were power cuts in Milange, Lugela, Maganja da Costa, Namanjavira, and parts of the city of Mocuba in the central party of the country.

There are fears the cyclone may not slow down soon as it is expected to return to the coast while gaining strength.