Pretoria, Republic of South Africa (Weltexpress). The death toll from Cyclone Chido, which hit the northern and central regions of the country on 15 December 2024, has risen to 45, according to the Club of Mozambique portal, citing the National Institute for Civil Protection. 45 people lost their lives in the severe storms and flooding caused by heavy rains, and more than 500 others were injured to varying degrees. A total of 174,000 Mozambicans have been affected by the cyclone, and more than 35,000 buildings have been damaged.
Earlier reports spoke of 34 deaths.
In the centre of the cyclone, wind speeds reached 60 m/s, accompanied by torrential rainfall.
The provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa were the most affected, with electricity lines downed and roads flooded. The National Institute confirmed that Chido has left Mozambique’s territory and no longer poses a threat.
The cyclone formed in the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean between 7 and 8 December 2024. It then moved westwards towards the African coast. The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean was the first to be affected, with 31 deaths. Chido then moved further west from Mozambique, hitting Zimbabwe and Malawi. In Malawi, the storm killed 13 people, damaged numerous buildings and left 45,000 people homeless.
