Cyclone Freddy made landfall on Madagascar nearly a month after storm Cheneso battered the island nation of 29 million, killing 33 people and forcing thousands from their homes.
The cyclone passed 120 km northwest of Mauritius on Monday afternoon, February 20, forcing people into shelters, and damaging power lines before bearing down on Madagascar.
Madagascar is hit by an average of 1.5 cyclones every year, the highest in Africa, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
After crossing Madagascar, Freddy could emerge in the Mozambican Channel and strengthen again, before making landfall in Mozambique and potentially moving on to Zimbabwe.
The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) said Cyclone Freddy had passed southeast of Antananarivo on Madagascar and was tracking west-southwestward at 16 knots with maximum sustained surface winds estimated at 100 knots, gusting to 125 knots.
“Cyclone Freddy will pass directly over the French possession of Europa Island, before making landfall on the Inhambane coast on Friday February 24″, according to a JTWC bulletin. The forecast wind speed is 65 knots (120.38 kilometres per hour ). Freddy’s projected course will then take it towards Zimbabwe, but by then the cyclone is likely to be dissipating.”
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Related News:
- Intense Tropical Cyclone Freddy Will Make Landfall over Madagascar (UK Met Office)
- Madagascar hit by Cyclone Freddy (Reuters)
- Mozambique: Freddy May Hit Inhambane Coast (Club of Mozambique News)
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