Tropical Cyclone Chido: A Comprehensive Impact Assessment and Response Update as of December 17, 2024

Tropical Cyclone Chido has severely affected Southern Africa, impacting more than 174,000 people in Mozambique, 34,000 in Malawi, and 64,000 in the Comoros. The cyclone caused significant damage, including thousands of destroyed homes, and resulted in at least 34 fatalities in Mozambique alone. The cyclone has weakened and moved inland, with ongoing disaster response efforts underway in the hardest-hit regions.

As of December 17, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Chido has had significant impacts across Mozambique, Malawi, and the Comoros. In Mozambique, the cyclone has affected over 174,000 people, claiming 34 lives and injuring 319 individuals. The wind speeds reached nearly 260 km/h, and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage, demolishing approximately 35,000 homes and affecting schools and health facilities. Field teams have been mobilized to provide immediate assistance in the hardest-hit areas. In Malawi, 34,741 people have been impacted, while the Comoros faces a national mourning due to casualties and infrastructure damage. In Mayotte, where the cyclone struck with unprecedented intensity, the death toll stands at 21, with severe disruptions to utilities and infrastructure. The cyclone is now classified as a depression and is expected to dissipate as it moves into Zimbabwe, where additional weather impacts may arise from residual moisture.

Tropical Cyclone Chido developed in early December 2024, causing substantial devastation across Southern Africa. With an unusual trajectory that involved landfall in Mozambique and subsequent movement into Malawi and the Comoros, Chido has led to extensive loss of life and property. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been actively tracking the cyclone’s progress and gathering data on its impacts, offering assistance and preparing communities for ongoing weather challenges. This report outlines the key consequences of the cyclone, ongoing humanitarian responses, and future forecasts regarding its diminishing effects.

In summary, Tropical Cyclone Chido has resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life across Mozambique, Malawi, and the Comoros with ongoing humanitarian efforts to assist those affected. The cyclone’s trajectory through previously unscathed territories highlights the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the region. As the storm weakens, the communities are faced with a long recovery process, compounded by the need for civil documentation services and infrastructure repairs in the impacted areas.

Original Source: reliefweb.int