Intense rains and winds started to lash parts of Mozambique as Tropical Cyclone Freddy bore down on the country for the second time in as many weeks, authorities have said.
\nFreddy slowed its advance towards the southern African nation and was 60 kilometres (40 miles) off the coast on Saturday morning, according to the Mozambique National Meteorology Institute (INAM).
\n\u201cThe system reduced its speed from seven to four kph, thus delaying its entry,\u201d INAM said in an update. \u201cHeavy rains and very strong winds\u201d were affecting the central provinces of Zambezia, Manica and Sofala, it added.
\nThe cyclone, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Southern hemisphere, previously made landfall on February 6.
\nWhile satellite data shows it seems to have stalled offshore, residents have taken precautionary measures.
\nAccording to the World Meteorological Organization, the previous record was held by a 31-day hurricane in 1994.
\nThe cyclone is slow-moving, which meteorological experts have said meant it would pick up more moisture off the sea, bringing heavy rainfall.
\nAround the world, climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and stronger, scientists have said. Oceans absorb much of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions, and when warm seawater evaporates its heat energy is transferred to the atmosphere, fuelling more destructive storms.
\nMore than 171,000 people were affected after the cyclone swept through southern Mozambique last month, bringing heavy rains and floods that damaged crops and destroyed houses, with OCHA putting its death toll at 27 so far \u2013 10 in Mozambique and 17 in Madagascar.
\nMore than half a million people are at risk in Mozambique this time, particularly in Tete, Sofala, Nampula and Zambezia provinces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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