The ManicaPost
Freddy first developed as a disturbance embedded within the monsoon trough on February 4, 2023.
While in the Australian region cyclone basin, the storm quickly intensified and became a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone, before it moved into the South-West Indian Ocean basin, where it intensified further.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated 1-minute sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) at Freddy’s peak strength, equivalent to Category 5 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale.
On February 19, Météo-France (MFR) upgraded it to a very intense tropical cyclone, estimated 10-minute winds of 220 km/h (140 mph).
Freddy made its first landfall near Mananjary, Madagascar.
The storm rapidly weakened overland but re-strengthened in the Mozambique Channel.
Shortly afterward, Freddy made second landfall just south of Vilankulos, Mozambique, before rapidly weakening.
Unexpectedly, the system managed to survive its visit in Mozambique and emerged back over the channel on March 1.
Soon after, Freddy was re-classified as a tropical cyclone by the MFR.
Over the course of 10 days, Freddy rapidly intensified on two occasions, eventually slowing to a semi-stationary movement near Quelimane, Mozambique.
Moving northwest inland, the storm gradually deteriorated and dissipated over Mozambique on March 15.
Preparations for the storm in the Mascarene Islands included flight groundings, cyclone alerts, and personnel being prepped for the aftermath, among other things.
In Madagascar, areas previously affected by Cyclones Batsirai and Cheneso were feared to be worsened by the storm’s arrival.
On February 20–21 , Freddy skirted Mauritius and Réunion to the north, bringing strong winds and adverse weather conditions.
A Taiwanese-flagged vessel with a crew of 16 went missing northeast of Mauritius.
The cyclone struck southeastern Madagascar, damaging many homes.
Impacts in Mozambique were more severe than in Madagascar and included heavy rainfall in the southern half of the country, and widely damaged infrastructure.
Some parts of the country received more than 300 mm (12 in) of rain.
Effects in Mozambique were exacerbated after its second landfall with further floods and wind damage.
Hardest-hit was Malawi where incessant rains caused catastrophic flash floods, with Blantyre suffering the brunt of it.
The nation’s power grid was crippled, with its hydroelectric dam rendered inoperable.
Overall, the cyclone killed at least 582 people: 476 in Malawi, 86 in Mozambique, 17 in Madagascar, two in Zimbabwe, and one in Mauritius.
The widespread and prolonged impacts prompted extensive relief efforts from the affected nations and multiple intergovernmental agencies.
UNICEF and the WFP provided relief items for those affected, as well as temporary shelters.
Food security was of particular concern, with millions of others left at risk.
The storm struck during a widespread Cholera outbreak in Mozambique and Malawi as well; severe flooding worsened the epidemic.
Survivors of the cyclone were found desperately digging in rubble with their bare hands in hopes that they would find other survivors. – Online.
