Tropical Cyclone Freddy tore through southern Malawi, killing at least 190 people, according to local officials on Tuesday. Survivors are still searching for loved ones in the worst-hit areas. In the nation, 37 individuals have been reported missing and at least 584 injuries.
The cyclone is “weakening but will continue to produce torrential rains coupled with windy conditions in most areas of Southern Malawi districts,” according to a statement from the Malawi Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change on Tuesday.
The scenario in southern Malawi has gotten worse, according to Charles Kalemba, a commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs agency, who spoke to CNN on Tuesday. “Today is worse. A number of locations are flooding and a number of roads and bridges are cut. Nearly no visibility is present. Both the network and the electricity are out. It’s getting worse and worse,” Kalemba said, adding that bad weather has also hampered relief efforts.
“It’s hard. Machines are required (for recovery operations), but the rain prevents them from reaching the areas where they were intended to be excavated, Kalemba continued. Kalemba continued by saying that Wednesday should see a change in the weather. “The cyclone might have gone by tomorrow. Although today is worse, we expect tomorrow to be better. There is a lot of water and heavy downpour.
The danger of damaging winds and heavy flooding “remains very high,” according to a warning issued on Monday by Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.