Pope Francis prays for Malawi as cyclone Freddy leaves trail of death and destruction
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- 15 Mar 2023
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In his weekly audience Pope Francis expresses his "closeness" to the people of Malawi who have been hit by a tropical cyclone that ripped through the country, triggering landslides that killed more than 200 people. His prayer comes as rescue scrambled on Wednesday to reach survivors in Malawi's battered city of Blantyre.
"I am close to the people of Malawi hit in recent days by a very strong cyclone. I pray for the dead, the injured, the displaced. May the Lord support the families and the communities hardest hit by this calamity." Pope Francis prayed at the open-air general audience at St.Peters' square in the Vatican.
Weather conditions were expected to improve as the storm dissipated over land after days of torrential rains, but flood levels remained high in some areas hampering emergency efforts.
"We found people in the trees, on rooftops or on higher grounds," Red Cross Malawi spokesman Felix Washoni told AFP.
"It's a challenge to reach them, water is high and bridges are broken."
Freddy returned to southeastern Africa at the weekend for a second time in less than three weeks, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.
Malawi's government said at least 190 people were killed with 584 injured and 37 missing, while authorities in neighbouring Mozambique reported 21 deaths and 24 injured.
Rescue workers warned more victims were to be expected as they scoured destroyed neighbourhoods for survivors even as hopes dwindled. Read More…
