ESWATINI SAFE, CYCLONE FREDDY TO LAND IN MOZAMBIQUE

MBABANE – Eswatini is safe from the adverse effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which will make a landfall in the East Coast of Mozambique today.

The landfall was expected to be between Govuro and Vilankulo (Inhambane Province), as a severe tropical storm. Tropical Cyclone Freddy first made a landfall on the North of Mauritius, tracking towards the Eastern Coast of Madagascar, on Tuesday. In Madagascar, the tropical cyclone hit hard when it tore through parts of the country in the Indian Ocean Ireland, resulting in four fatalities. Senior Forecaster Phephisa Sihlongonyane, who gave clarity on whether or not Eswatini would be severely affected by the tropical cyclone, stated that the kingdom was in the clear but would receive rains over the weekend.

Coming

The rains will begin today, through to Monday, with a frontal system coming from the south. According to Sihlongonyane, there was a likelihood that the frontal system would convert with the outside spiral bands of the tropical cyclone, which could merge with the frontal system, resulting in rain showers and possible thunderstorms. He said the current position of Tropical Cyclone Freddy showed that it was about 900 kilometres from Eswatini, in the central part of the Mozambique channel. “Once it hits the coast, it will reduce to about 500 to 700 kilometres from the country.”

Sihlongonyane said the tropical cyclone was expected to move quasi stationary over the southern part of Mozambique in areas like Inhambane Province and towards Zimbabwe and Limpopo Province in South Africa, for about two to three days from today until Monday. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report on the analysis in Mozambique, heavy rains are expected to affect Gaza, Manica, Maputo, Inhambane and Sofala provinces, causing extensive flooding.  OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.

On Tuesday, the Mozambique Council of Ministers declared a red alert enabling response. Red alert means a very high risk was about to happen or was already happening that may result in a high impact of damage to infrastructure and disruptions to people and communities.

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