Freddy has broken records for the number of times it has re-intensified after weakening and has documented the highest-ever accumulated energy for a single cyclone – more energy than a typical US hurricane season.
A persistent cyclone that refuses to dissipate has ravaged Malawi and Mozambique, murdering at least 56 people and leaving a large number of others injured or missing.
At least 51 deaths have been confirmed in Malawi, and five deaths have been confirmed in Mozambique.
Malawian authorities anticipate the death toll to escalate.
Saturday night, Cyclone Freddy struck Africa for the second time in a month, causing widespread destruction.
It has re-intensified after weakening seven times, which is a record.
And it is forecast to be the longest tropical cyclone ever and have the highest accumulated energy ever for a storm.
It has accumulated more energy over its lifecycle than an entire hurricane season in the United States.
Meteo-France’s regional center predicts “the heaviest rains will continue over the next 48 hours” as the cyclone continues.
Freddy hit Quelimane, a Mozambican harbor in Zambezia, on Saturday, destroying homes and farms.
According to authorities, a family in Malawi perished after violent winds and rain devastated their home.
Authorities report that a three-year-old infant was “trapped in the debris” with her parents reported missing.
Peter Kalaya, a spokesperson for the Malawi police, stated regarding the number of casualties and missing persons, “We suspect that this number will rise as we attempt to compile a national report from our southwest, southeast, and eastern police offices, which cover the affected areas.”
Last month, the storm crossed the southern Indian Ocean from Australia to Madagascar and Reunion.
The UN’s meteorological agency will decide if Freddy broke Hurricane John’s 31-day tropical cyclone record.
Wednesday, according to Meteo-France, Freddy should subside and return to the sea.
While climate change driven by fossil fuels has not increased the total number of tropical cyclones, it has increased the number of intense and destructive storms in three important ways, according to experts.
A warmer atmosphere can contain more moisture, resulting in more intense precipitation from storms. Additionally, hotter oceans fuel more powerful storms, causing tropical storms to extend further north and south. Storm surges inflict more damage when sea levels are higher.
