The disaster in Malawi was severe, and the death toll jumped from 99 yesterday to 190.

(AFP)

[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] The rare and long-lived tropical cyclone Freddy hit Mozambique and Malawi hard. Floods and landslides caused more than 100 deaths in the two countries. Malawi announced on the 14th that the number of victims increased from yesterday 99 jumped to 190 and is expected to continue rising.

According to comprehensive foreign media reports, Freddy was born off the coast of northwest Australia on February 6, crossed the entire southern Indian Ocean, crossed and severely damaged Madagascar on February 21, attacked Mozambique on February 24, and then headed for Madagascar It reversed direction and made landfall in Mozambique again last weekend, continuing to push into Malawi inland.

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Malawi announced on Tuesday that the death toll had jumped to 190 after Freddy struck twice in eastern Africa in a month, with at least 158 ​​killed in the country's commercial hub of Blantyre, including 36 in landslides .

Some 584 people were injured, 37 were unaccounted for, and about 20,000 were left homeless, officials said.

The government has declared a state of emergency in 10 hard-hit areas.

Police said the heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow and floodwaters rushed into streets, carrying people away and knocking down houses.

Rescuers were using shovels to try to find survivors buried in the mud.

The power system was also hit hard, with most areas without power for extended periods and hydroelectric plants out of order.

The death toll is expected to rise in Malawi as continued rains and strong winds hampered rescue operations on Tuesday and some areas remain cut off from the outside world.

Freddy made landfall in central Mozambique on Saturday. Strong winds knocked over roofs. Flooding also raged around the port of Quelimane. The death toll in Mozambique is still unclear due to power outages in the affected areas. About 10 people are known to have died so far.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Freddy was the strongest tropical cyclone on record and likely the longest-lived.

Climate change is making tropical storms around the world wetter, windier and stronger, experts say.

Rescue operations in Malawi were hampered by persistent rain and strong winds on Tuesday, with some areas still cut off from the outside world and the death toll is expected to rise.

(Associated Press)