Tropical Cyclone Chido Claims 13 Lives and Displaces Over 45,000 in Malawi
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Lilongwe, Dec 18 (NationPress) The casualty count from the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Chido in Malawi has increased to 13, with over 45,000 individuals impacted by intense rainfall that struck the nation from Sunday until Tuesday, as reported by local officials on Wednesday.
Charles Kalemba, the Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), indicated that the cyclone also resulted in 29 injuries, up from the 16 reported earlier on Tuesday.
Kalemba further highlighted that the total affected households have escalated to 10,159, impacting around 45,162 people, with 227 individuals displaced.
By Tuesday, the cyclone had moved out of Malawi, leaving behind a path of destruction along with heavy rains in the southern region of the country.
The DoDMA, together with various humanitarian organizations, is currently extending relief aid to the affected communities, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The cyclone wreaked havoc, damaging roofs of residential and public buildings.
Tropical Cyclone Chido originated as a tropical depression in the southeastern Indian Ocean basin between December 7 and 8.
A tropical depression is typically characterized by a low-pressure area over an ocean, featuring a circular wind pattern caused by thunderstorms. Such systems usually have maximum sustained wind speeds of 61 km/h or lower.
If a tropical depression gains strength, it can develop into a tropical storm, defined by wind speeds between 62 km/h and 119 km/h. Winds surpassing this limit classify the system as a tropical cyclone.
The terminology surrounding these systems can be a bit perplexing. In regions such as the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and northeastern Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones are termed hurricanes. In the western Pacific Ocean, they are called typhoons, while in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the term cyclone is applied.
Cyclone Chido made its way to Malawi on Monday and was anticipated to dissipate by Tuesday near Zimbabwe, which was also on alert for heavy rainfall induced by the storm.
