Thu Dec 19 19:56:06 UTC 2024: ## Cyclone Chido Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Southern Africa, Death Toll Rises
**Maputo, Mozambique/Paris, France** – Cyclone Chido has left a devastating path across southern Africa, claiming at least 96 lives and impacting hundreds of thousands. The storm, which brought winds exceeding 260 kilometers per hour and torrential rainfall, made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday before moving into Malawi and leaving a trail of destruction in Mayotte, a French overseas territory.
In Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management reported the death toll has climbed to 73, with 66 fatalities in Cabo Delgado province alone, four in Nampula province, and three in Niassa. One person remains missing. Over 540 people were injured, and the cyclone destroyed more than 39,100 homes and partially damaged over 13,400 more. A staggering 329,500 people have been affected, according to the disaster centre. UNICEF spokesman Guy Taylor described the situation in northern Mozambique as “devastation,” highlighting the pre-existing vulnerability of the region due to conflict and underdevelopment.
Malawi also suffered casualties from the cyclone, reporting 13 deaths and numerous injuries.
The impact on Mayotte was equally severe. French authorities confirmed at least 31 deaths and over 1,500 injuries, with more than 200 listed as critical. The storm caused widespread damage to homes, reducing entire shantytowns to rubble. France has requested emergency aid, including 10,000 tents, from the European Union. President Macron visited Mayotte on Thursday, facing appeals for increased support from residents grappling with the aftermath of the storm.
The combined death toll from Cyclone Chido across Mozambique, Malawi, and Mayotte currently stands at at least 96, with the number expected to rise as assessments continue. International aid organizations are mobilizing to provide emergency relief to the affected areas.
First Piper 