Cyclone Freddy leaves over 300 people dead

Defence Force soldiers work with locals to recover bodies at Blantyre Thursday. Pic/AFP

Tropical Cyclone Freddy left over 300 people dead after it ripped through southeastern Africa's Malawi, CNN reported citing the landlocked country's Department of Disaster Management Affairs. Malawi's Department of Disaster Management Affairs said the cyclone had killed as many as 326 people.

The devastation in the wake of the tropical storm left survivors trapped and fighting for survival. The authorities further stated that over 30 people from Chilobwe, one of the hardest-hit areas, have died and dozens remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue. People could be seen on Monday using shovels, even bare hands, to search for the people in the rubble. Speaking to CNN, Dorothy Wachepa, a mother of four, said she woke up to a deafening noise "resembling the sound of an aeroplane."

Also Read: Arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over Ukraine war crimes

"It was around 12 and I heard the sound accompanied by shouting from people upland," she said. What followed was a torrent of muddy water, accompanied by rocks and trees, sliding down the mountain.

All her possessions were washed away. "Everything is gone. I was doing a small-scale business selling vegetables because my husband died in 2014. I've been supporting the children from the little that I have," she added, reported CNN. In Mozambique, at least 10 people were killed and 13 injured in the Zambezia province, CNN reported.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever