See why Cyclone Freddy is doing so much damage

Cyclone Freddy, described as exceptional by the scientific community, causes heavy damage on its passage through Africa; see why in this summary of the situation. 

Its exceptional longevity

The cyclone formed in early February in the Indian Ocean, quietly beating Hurricane John's previous record of 31 days.

Loop path

Freddy crossed the Indian Ocean before hitting several countries in Africa twice, and moved more than 10,000 km, almost twice the width of Canada.

Difficult weather conditions

The tropical cyclone brings with it strong winds, which have already reached 265 km/h, and heavy rain showers, which in turn cause flooding and landslides of land, destroying houses and other buildings in its path.

Strikes on poor countries

In addition to wreaking havoc by the very fact of being a cyclone, Freddy does all the more damage as it has affected some of the poorest countries in the world. According to Statista data, Malawi is the 3rd poorest country in the world, Madagascar is 5th and Mozambique is 9th.

These countries are now threatened by a humanitarian crisis, as many homes have been destroyed and will have to be rebuilt, and that the sanitary situation is conducive to the development of diseases.

Proliferation of cholera

According to the World Organization of Health (WHO), cholera spread rapidly in early February in this area of ​​Africa, infecting as many people in one month as in the whole of 2022. Malawi, followed by Mozambique, are the African countries the most affected by the epidemic.

Cholera causes an acute diarrheal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae, the risk of spread is therefore greater after a climatic disaster .

With information from The Weather Network