Cyclone Freddy leaves a trail of death and grief in Malawi

The death toll from Cyclone Freddy in Malawi rose today to 438, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma).

Lilongwe.- The source said that hundreds of people have been injured and 282 are missing, while 345,000 persons have been evacuated from their homes.

With these figures, the total number of deaths in the region is estimated at more than 530, after the cyclone hit Madagascar and Mozambique.

The country’s president, Lazarus Chakwera, declared a state of disaster for the nation and last Thursday decreed 14 days of national mourning.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, Freddy looks to become one of the longest-lasting cyclones in Southern Africa. (PL)