99 people in Malawi are killed by Cyclone Freddy

Cyclone Freddy struck southern Malawi on Monday, leaving at least 99 people dead, according to Charles Kalemba, the country’s commissioner for disaster management affairs, who spoke to CNN.

According to Kalemba, the majority of the fatalities occurred in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial centre.

The southern part of Malawi has been proclaimed to be in a “state of catastrophe” by the government.

President of the country Lazarus Chakwera “has noted with extreme worry the destruction that Cyclone Freddy is currently bringing to most districts in Malawi’s Southern region,” according to a government news release.

The deadly Cyclone Freddy has broken records for the longest-lasting storm of its kind and has struck neighbouring Mozambique and Madagascar, killing more than 20 people and displacing thousands of others. Malawi’s education ministry said schools will remain shut in 10 of the worst-affected districts until Wednesday, and Malawi police spokesman Peter Kalaya told CNN the destruction caused by the storm had inundated roadways and triggered blackouts. Rescue efforts have been “tough”.