After Cyclone Freddy, flood risk lingers for African city with Nebraska ties
NORFOLK, Neb. -- After four days of destructive wind and rain, local communities and relief workers are now dealing with the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy, which has killed more than 400 people in Africa, including a town with deep Nebraska ties.
Cyclone Freddy dissipated over land late Wednesday, but weather monitoring centers warned that countries are still vulnerable to flooding and landslides.
At least 225 people have been killed in southern Malawi, including within the financial capital of Blantyre, a town known to many in northeast Nebraska.
Blantyre is home to the Norfolk Public Schools of Malawi, a school district started by Norfolk native Joe Mtika.
Ambassadors from the Malawian city visited Norfolk in 2017, at which point Norfolk and Blantyre became sister cities. The agreement created an educational pipeline at Northeast Community College.
It's not yet known how the school in Malawi has been affected by the cyclone and ongoing flooding.