Cyclone Chido has caused the deaths of at least 94 people in Mozambique since it struck the country last week, according to local authorities.
The National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) reports that 768 people have been injured and over 622,000 individuals have been affected by the storm.
Chido made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, packing winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and dumping 250mm of rainfall within the first 24 hours.
The cyclone, which initially devastated the French island territory of Mayotte, continued its destructive path through Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
In Mozambique, the cyclone mainly impacted northern provinces, including Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula, areas frequently hit by such storms.
The INGD has noted that the storm has severely disrupted the education and health sectors in Mozambique.
Over 109,000 students have been affected, with significant damage to school buildings.
Additionally, 52 healthcare facilities have been destroyed, further complicating the delivery of essential services, particularly in regions already struggling with limited access to healthcare.
Daniel Chapo, leader of Mozambique’s ruling party, assured local media that the government is mobilizing support at all levels.
During a visit to Cabo Delgado, one of the hardest-hit regions, Chapo emphasized the government’s collaboration with the INGD to help affected provinces like Mecúfi, Nampula, Memba, and Niassa recover and rebuild.
Cyclone Chido had previously made landfall in Mayotte, where it became the worst storm in 90 years, causing widespread devastation.
The latest reports from the island’s interior ministry confirm 35 deaths, although officials warn the toll could rise significantly as further assessments are made.
The ministry anticipates that the final death count could be in the hundreds or even thousands, with over 1,300 officers dispatched to assist the local population.
In Mayotte, many residents are still without basic supplies, though running water is gradually being restored in the capital.
Authorities are advising the public to boil water for three minutes before drinking.
The French government is delivering significant amounts of aid, with 100 tonnes of equipment arriving daily via an air bridge between Mayotte, Reunion, and mainland France.
On Friday, the interior ministry confirmed that 80 tonnes of food and 50 tonnes of water were distributed across the island.
Cyclones, like Chido, are notorious for their powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which can lead to severe flooding and widespread destruction.
The INGD has highlighted the ongoing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to the effects of climate change, calling for more resilient planning to better prepare for such natural disasters in the future.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact role of climate change in specific tropical cyclones, studies from the UN’s climate body, the IPCC, show that human activity has likely contributed to an increase in precipitation linked to these storms.
The IPCC also suggests a “medium confidence” that human actions have heightened the intensity of such cyclones.
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