High alert levels as Cyclone Freddy rages on

23 Feb 2023 - by Christiaan Schultz

Part of the roof flies off a building as Cyclone Freddy batters Trou-aux-Biches, Mauritius, on February 20, in this still image obtained from a social media video. Source: Twitter @PiotrWachowski / REUTERS

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Mozambique, Zimbabwe and parts of South Africa are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Beira on the Mozambique coastline this weekend.

According to news reports, predictions are for extreme downpours and damaging winds in Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe, as Freddy has now moved into the Mozambique Channel.

Mozambique's government has declared a red alert to allow agencies to prepare for a potential emergency.

In South Africa, the Lowveld and escarpment areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga could potentially be at risk, especially considering the recent heavy rains and flooding these regions have already been subjected to.

Cyclone Freddy has thus far caused major damage (include damaging infrastructure) in Mauritius and Madagascar, with five people killed in Madagascar.

Disaster management efforts launched

As a precautionary response measure, The Western Cape Disaster Management Centre had been requested by the National Disaster Management Centre to lead a combined South African team to support rescue efforts in severely affected areas, Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said today.

Colin Deiner, Head of the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, will lead the combined effort to ensure that the various rescue teams are co-ordinated and on standby for deployment.

“A team of 40 rescue workers are currently ready to deploy at short notice. The team is represented by the Western Cape and Gauteng Disaster Management Centres, Gift of the Givers Rescue Team, Rescue South Africa, SARZA Rough Terrain Specialists and the National Sea Rescue Institute. The team will be supported by approximately 20 off-road rescue vehicles and several rescue boats. They will also be equipped with water and rope rescue equipment, heavy lifting and cutting equipment, mobile command posts and technical search equipment. The team will be self-sufficient and will be equipped to deal with water rescue operations as well as search and rescue of missing persons,” Deiner said.