Madagascar & New Zealand: Two countries in recovery after cyclones

Madagascar and New Zealand both continue to recover from their respective cyclones in recent weeks.

In Madagascar, at least four people were killed this week by the arrival of Cyclone Freddy which is now approaching Mozambique in the south of Africa.

Latest figures from the country suggest over 4,000 homes were flooded as the tropical storm arrived as a category 2 strength cyclone with gusts reaching 111 mph.

Madagascar is still reeling from Cyclone Cheneso which saturated the ground making flooding more likely from Freddy.

Freddy is an unusual system, becoming part of a select group of cyclones to travel across the entirety of the Indian Ocean, first forming on February 5th.

Before reaching Madagascar the system passed the islands of Réunion and Mauritius causing widespread power outages.

In New Zealand a national state of emergency is still in effect days after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle departed the country.

Gabrielle mostly impacted the northern island of New Zealand where many areas were already dealing with the aftermath of record rainfall earlier this month.

At least 11 people are known to have passed away due to the conditions with 56 people still considered missing. This number reached over 5,000 as the storm hit.

The government has allocated NZ$250 million to rebuild damaged roads and an initial relief package of NZ$50 million.

An additional NZ$25 million has been allocated for vineyards and other farmland which were damaged by the system, particularly in the wine hotspots of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.

More heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for New Zealand’s northern island which has already prompted evacuations today.