After tearing through southern Africa for the second time in a month, Cyclone Freddy, one of the most violent storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, has killed 190 people in Malawi, according to the Malawian government on Tuesday.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the area surrounding Blantyre’s business center. Roads and bridges were devastated by severe water and rain, which complicated relief efforts.
Additionally, Freddy left a path of devastation in Mozambique, where it touched down over the weekend. There were more than 22,000 people looking for shelter away from their houses.
The latest death toll in Malawi is a jump from 99 reported on Monday, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs said.
As heavy rains continued to pummel the country, 584 people have been injured and 37 are still missing, it said in a statement.
Grief-stricken families were seen waiting to collect the dead bodies of relatives from the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital mortuary in Blantyre.
Mudslides triggered by heavy rain have made it difficult to get relief to those affected, aid agencies said.
Freddy pummelled central Mozambique on Saturday, ripping roofs off buildings and causing widespread flooding around the port of Quelimane before moving inland towards Malawi.