At least 34 people have been confirmed dead in northern Mozambique following Cyclone Chido, described as one of the most intense storms ever recorded. The National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) warned the toll is expected to rise.
Chido made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, bringing winds of up to 260km/h (160mph), destroying homes, schools, and infrastructure. Most fatalities occurred due to falling objects, including brick walls, officials said. Electricity and communication lines have been severely disrupted, leaving 200,000 without power.
The cyclone battered Cabo Delgado before moving inland to Niassa and Nampula, where a three-year-old girl was among the victims. Over 34,000 families have been left homeless.
In Mayotte, a French overseas territory, the storm caused catastrophic damage. The official death toll stands at 21, but hundreds are feared dead, and more than 200 Red Cross volunteers remain missing.
Emergency response efforts are hindered by impassable roads and downed power lines. Authorities have imposed a night-time curfew to curb looting.
Cyclone Chido follows last year’s devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy, which killed over 180 people in Mozambique.
