More than 1,000 people have died as a result of Cyclone Freddy, according to Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, who spoke on Wednesday as his country worked to recover from one of the worst storms to hit the continent in the previous 20 years.
Cyclone Freddy tore across Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar in late February before turning around and returning in March, leaving a path of devastation in its wake.
Over 2 million people were impacted by the storm, and over 500,000 were displaced as homes, roads, and other infrastructure were destroyed, according to Chakwera.
He did not provide an explanation as to why the estimated number of fatalities increased from more than 500 on March 20 to hundreds of individuals still missing.
Before making landfall in Madagascar, Freddy journeyed more than 8,000 kilometres (4,970 miles) and began to develop off the coast of Australia.
The cyclone, which developed in February off the northern coast of Australia before moving to southeastern Africa, may be the storm with the longest duration in the southern hemisphere, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
At least 20 fatalities have been reported in neighbouring Mozambique, according to officials, after the hurricane hit the port city of Quelimane on last Saturday night.
