Cyclone Chido kills 34 in Mozambique; hundreds feared dead, thousands displaced in Mayotte

At least 34 people have died in northern Mozambique following “one of the most intense storms ever recorded,” according to the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD).

Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday after causing devastation in Mayotte, a French overseas territory, where hundreds are feared dead and over 200 Red Cross volunteers are reported missing.

The INGD described the situation in Mozambique as “heart-breaking,” warning that the death toll is likely to rise. The cyclone’s 260 km/h (160 mph) winds displaced more than 34,000 families and destroyed schools, health facilities, and fishing boats.

The worst-hit areas include Cabo Delgado, Niassa, and Nampula provinces, regions frequently battered by cyclones and plagued by Islamist militant attacks. A three-year-old girl was among the fatalities in Nampula.

Most deaths were caused by falling debris, such as brick walls, said INGD spokesperson Paulo Tomas. State-owned Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) reported that around 200,000 customers are without power as electricity and communication lines were severely disrupted.

In Mayotte, Cyclone Chido caused catastrophic damage to infrastructure, downing power lines and rendering roads impassable, severely hindering emergency response efforts. Chido is the strongest storm to strike the Indian Ocean territory in over 90 years.

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