Cyclone Chido death toll rises to 94 in Mozambique

Authorities say the death toll from Cyclone Chido in northern Mozambique has climbed to 94 people, as damage assessments continue from the devastating storm.

Most of the casualties occurred in the northern Cabo Delgado province, where 84 people have died and 740 were injured, Antonio Bonifacio, an adviser for Mozambique's National Institute of Disaster Management, told EFE.

Another seven deaths and 24 injuries were recorded in Nampula province, while Niassa province in the northwest recorded three deaths and four injuries.

"The impact was extremely devastating," Antonio said.

The cyclone has affected around 622,000 people across at least five northern provinces, he added.

Cyclone Chido, which brought winds of up to 260km/h and rainfall of 250 millimetres in just 24 hours, caused widespread destruction in Mozambique.

The storm destroyed at least 140,628 houses, 52 medical centres, and 250 schools, according to the latest government figures.

It also demolished 89 public buildings, 338 high-voltage towers, 2700 kilometres of power lines, and 11 mobile phone towers.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi declared a two-day period of national mourning on Friday.

He said that restoring essential public services, such as electricity, water distribution, and communication systems, remains the government's top priority.

After devastating northern Mozambique, Cyclone Chido moved into neighbouring Malawi on Monday, where it caused at least 13 deaths.

The cyclone also devastated the French archipelago of Mayotte, where it claimed 35 lives and injured around 2500 people.

The Indian Ocean islands were battered by winds of up to 220 km/h and heavy rainfall, leaving behind widespread destruction.

South eastern Africa annually experiences a tropical storm season between October and April, often resulting in significant loss of life and property damage.

Between February and March 2023, Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting cyclone on record, claimed over 1200 lives in Malawi and nearly 200 in Mozambique, affecting more than 1.7 million people across the region.