34 Confirmed Dead As Cyclone Chido Ravages Mozambique

At least 34 people have been confirmed dead in northern Mozambique following Cyclone Chido, described as “one of the most intense storms ever recorded” in the region, according to Mozambique’s National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD).

The cyclone made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, bringing catastrophic winds of up to 260 km/h (160 mph) and widespread destruction. Over 34,000 families have lost their homes, and critical infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, and fishing boats, has been destroyed.

EDITOR’S PICKS

The northern provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula bore the brunt of the storm. In Nampula, a three-year-old girl was among the fatalities. Many of the victims were struck by falling debris, such as collapsing brick walls, according to INGD spokesperson Paulo Tomas.

Electricity and communication networks have been severely disrupted, with state utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) reporting that approximately 200,000 customers are without power.

Before reaching Mozambique, Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc in Mayotte, a French overseas region in the Indian Ocean. The storm is the strongest to strike the area in over 90 years, leaving at least 21 confirmed dead. However, officials fear the death toll could reach the hundreds, with widespread devastation complicating rescue efforts.

A French MP from Mayotte, Estelle Youssouffa, described the destruction as “almost incomprehensible,” with 90% of buildings damaged and entire areas wiped out.

Tens of thousands are feared dead, she said. Emergency operations have been hampered by downed power lines, impassable roads, and the loss of communication infrastructure.

Tommaso Della Longa, a spokesperson for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, reported that more than 200 Red Cross volunteers are among those missing. “The entire area, if not the whole island, has been destroyed or washed away,” he said.