Malawi President Malawi President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Monday declared a state-of-disaster in several southern districts after the powerful Tropical Cyclone Freddy made a comeback killing dozens, reported Africa News.
In a statement issued on Monday, Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, said Chakwera had made the declaration under section 32(1) of the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act.
The statement said that President Chakwera has noted with grave concern the devastation that Cyclone Freddy is currently bringing to most districts and declared a state of disaster in the Southern region.
The state of disaster has been declared in Blantyre City and District, Chiradzulu District, Chikwawa District, Mulanje District, Mwanza District, Nsanje District, Neno District, Thyolo District, Phalombe District, Zomba City and District.
The storm left a trail of destruction and killed more than 60 people in Malawi.
The statement said that the Malawi government has already begun taking measures to control the destruction and losses caused by the cyclone while also appealing for local and international relief aid.
More than 60 bodies were found during the day in southern Malawi due to heavy flooding caused by the rain. More people are still missing.
Blantyre city has been the worst affected with regional police spokeswoman Beatrice Mikuwa saying at least 36 bodies were recovered in the township of Chilobwe with dozens of houses washed away.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, Freddy is the strongest tropical cyclone reported so far and could also be the long-lasting one.
On Sunday, it struck Mozambique as a cyclone for the second time in less than a month. It has been difficult to determine the extent of the damage caused in Mozambique and the number of deaths as power supply and phone signals remained cut off in some parts of the affected areas.
