Record-strength Cyclone Freddy pounds Mozambique after making second landfall

More than 1,71,000 people were affected after the cyclone swept through southern Mozambique last month, killing 27 people in Mozambique and Madagascar

Cyclone Freddy battered central Mozambique on March 12 after making landfall for a second time in a month, breaking records for the duration and strength of tropical storms in the southern hemisphere.

Communications and electricity supply in the storm area have been cut so the extent of the damage and number of casualties were not clear.

More than 1,71,000 people were affected after the cyclone swept through southern Mozambique last month, killing 27 people in Mozambique and Madagascar. More than half a million are at risk of being affected in Mozambique this time, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

After passing the port town of Quelimane, the storm was continuing inland towards the southern tip of neighbouring Malawi, satellite data showed.

However, the national power company Electricidade de Moçambique said that by mid-afternoon electricity had been restored in most areas, with the exception of Milange, Lugela, Maganja da Costa, Namanjavira and parts of the city of Mocuba.

"The wind was very strong into the night ... There is a lot of destruction, trees fallen down, roofs blown off," UNICEF chief of advocacy, communications and partnerships for Mozambique, Guy Taylor, told Reuters by satellite phone from Quelimane. He had no word yet on casualties or numbers of displaced.

"It's potentially a disaster of large magnitude, and additional support will be needed," Mr. Taylor said, adding that heavy rains were continuing to fall.