By Ayomide Otitoju
Cyclone Chido has left a trail of destruction across Mozambique, claiming at least 94 lives, according to the country’s disaster management agency. The death toll, initially reported as 76, was revised on Sunday as rescue efforts continue.
The cyclone, which originated in the Indian Ocean, first devastated the French island of Mayotte before making landfall on the African mainland. In Mozambique, the storm destroyed 110,000 homes, further compounding the nation’s struggles amidst a political crisis.
Storm Ravages Cabo Delgado
After making landfall, Cyclone Chido battered Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado with gusts reaching 260 km/h (160 mph) and 250 mm (10 inches) of rainfall in a single day. The province, already grappling with a long-running Islamist insurgency, now faces widespread devastation.
UNICEF images from the heavily affected Mecufi district show a mosque stripped of its roof by the gale-force winds. Officials estimate that over 500,000 of the 620,000 affected Mozambicans are concentrated in Cabo Delgado, a region particularly vulnerable to tropical storms.
Experts have attributed the storm’s intensity to the effects of human-driven climate change.
Political Crisis Compounds Challenges
The cyclone struck as Mozambique navigates a post-election crisis. Opposition groups allege electoral fraud following the victory of the ruling Frelimo party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in October.
Protests against Chapo’s declared win have turned deadly, with at least 130 fatalities reported during demonstrations. International observers, including Amnesty International, have cited irregularities in the election process.
Chapo, set to be sworn in as president on January 15, visited affected areas on Sunday, calling for nationwide donations of food and clothing. “Even if we are using them, our brothers need them,” he said in a televised appeal.
Regional Impact and Rising Concerns
Mozambique remains the hardest-hit nation, but Cyclone Chido has caused devastation elsewhere. In Mayotte, 35 people have been reported dead, with 2,500 injured, according to the French Interior Ministry. The toll is expected to rise, as many undocumented migrants from the nearby Comoros Islands resided in shantytowns flattened by the storm.
The Comoros, which claims sovereignty over Mayotte, declared a day of national mourning, despite reporting no fatalities on its territory.
In Malawi, where the storm weakened but remained dangerous, 13 people have died, and nearly 30 others have been injured, according to the country’s disaster management agency.
Drought Worsens Crisis
The cyclone’s impact comes amid one of the worst droughts in a century for southern Africa, as reported by the United Nations. The combined effects of the storm and drought have left Mozambique and neighboring countries in dire need of international aid and coordinated recovery efforts.
With rescue and recovery operations ongoing, officials warn that the death toll from Cyclone Chido may continue to rise.
