Cyclone Chido's Death Toll in Mozambique Increases to 120
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Maputo, Dec 24 (NationPress) The death toll from Cyclone Chido, a powerful tropical cyclone that struck northern Mozambique, has climbed to 120, with 868 individuals injured and more than 680,000 affected, according to the latest data from Mozambique's national disaster relief agency.
The cyclone has wreaked havoc in the northern provinces of Mozambique, including Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa, due to severe rainfall, storms, and flooding, as reported by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD).
Cyclone Chido, which made landfall on December 15, brought catastrophic downpours and storms, leading to significant devastation across the Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. The national disaster relief agency has indicated that over 123,000 families, equating to 622,610 people, have been affected, with more than 140,000 homes either partially or completely destroyed.
In total, over 150,000 homes have been impacted, alongside 250 schools, 89 public buildings, and 52 health facilities. Nearly 110,000 students have been affected, as highlighted in the INGD update.
As part of the response to the displacement, the government has established two emergency shelters, currently accommodating 1,349 people, according to reports from Xinhua.
The INGD has underscored the severe repercussions of Cyclone Chido on the education and health sectors in a recent social media post. It stated, "The Cyclone Chido once again underscores the vulnerability of social infrastructure to climate change and the necessity for resilient planning to reduce future impacts."
Cyclone Chido originated over the southwestern Indian Ocean on December 5. After devastating Mayotte, a French overseas territory, it made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, leaving a path of destruction.
Authorities and international humanitarian organizations are actively calling for support to meet the urgent needs of the affected communities.
A tropical depression, Cyclone Chido is characterized by an area of low atmospheric pressure over an ocean, with a circular wind pattern generated by thunderstorms. These systems typically demonstrate maximum sustained wind speeds of 61 km/h or lower.
If a tropical depression intensifies, it can transform into a tropical storm, defined by wind speeds ranging from 62 km/h to 119 km/h. Winds exceeding this limit categorize the system as a tropical cyclone.
