Thousands displaced: Tropical Storm Filipo impacts Mozambique

Tropical Storm Filipo has resulted in at least two reported deaths amid thousands who have been displaced after landfall in Mozambique.

Just over a year after Cyclone Freddy impacted more than one million people in the East African country, Filipo made landfall on Tuesday. So far, two people have died due to the system, and around 2,800 people have been displaced.

The low-pressure system, named Filipo, delivered abundant, intense rain and strong gusts of rain as it hit multiple countries, with Mozambique the worst affected.

Many structures collapsed in coastal areas due to the severe storm at sea. In the south of the country, waves exceeded 21 feet in height.

Meanwhile, in Maputo, the capital, streets were flooded, and traffic was significantly impeded. In this city of more than one million inhabitants, dozens of vehicles were swept away.

Rainfall was heavy, exceeding 8 inches in some areas. Combined with wind speeds of more than 50 mph, it created a dangerous weather situation in a country still recovering from Freddy.

Cyclone Freddy devastated much of the country and left thousands of people without access to water or food in February 2023. International assistance has been activated to bring the country back to normality as soon as possible.

Nearby Madagascar also suffered from Freddy, which resulted in more than 500 deaths across Mozambique, Madagascar, and Malawi during the impact.

Freddy was a much stronger system, making landfall as a category four cyclone, and made history as the longest-lasting system on record. Due to this, recovery efforts are continuing even a year later.

Curious about the difference between cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons? Watch our special report from Weather & Radar meteorologist Tamsin Green to learn more.