Cyclone Freddy began to hit Madagascar tonight, accompanied by gale-force winds and heavy rain. Authorities in the East African island nation have suspended schools and public transport, and have already reported the first death as a result of the cyclone.
According to the Madagascar meteorological service, Cyclone Freddy reached the southeastern tip of the island nation tonight, slightly weakening, with an average wind speed of 130 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h. In a related statement, he highlighted the danger faced by coastal areas, citing heavy rains and waves over 8 meters high off the southeast coast.
A 27-year-old man drowned near the port of Mahanoro while more than 7,000 people were displaced in the Watovawi area, the national emergency agency said.
“The roofs of the houses were blown off by a hurricane,” said Tanya Rajaonarivoni, a resident of the city of Mananjari.
Nearly a month after Tropical Storm Seneso passed, killing 33 people and leaving thousands homeless, Madagascar was hit by a devastating cyclone.
Cyclone Freddy is then expected to head west and hit Mozambique and Zimbabwe, affecting about 3.3 people, according to estimates by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
Source: APE/MEB
Source: Kathimerini
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