The death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique has risen to 75, nearly doubling the previously reported figure, according to government officials on Friday.
Rescue workers are working to reach areas cut off by the storm, which made landfall earlier this week in Cabo Delgado province, a region already affected by a long-standing insurgency linked to the Islamic State.
At least 69 fatalities have been recorded in the province, with 740 others injured, as reported by Mozambique’s National Institute for Natural Disasters. Some deaths were confirmed as rescue teams navigated rural areas, facing challenges due to washed-out dirt roads.
In Mecufi district, most buildings have been destroyed, according to a report from the government and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. A reporting officer for the U.N. refugee agency described the scene as “utter destruction,” after visiting Mecufi and other affected regions.
Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest nations, is significantly impacted by climate change and frequently experiences storms from the southern Indian Ocean.
As Cyclone Chido struck, mud homes were washed away, and wooden structures were reduced to debris. The maternity health clinic in the district sustained damage, with its roof torn off and medical equipment displaced. Classrooms were left in ruins, with only crumpled schoolbooks remaining.
In Cabo Delgado, hundreds of thousands had already fled their homes due to insurgent attacks. The Chiure district saw at least 10,000 individuals affected by the storm while living in temporary shelters.
Ms. Zoni noted that those already impacted by conflict now face additional challenges due to the severe weather.
Cyclone Chido brought wind speeds of 115 miles per hour, comparable to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic, and previously impacted Mayotte, a French archipelago, where authorities reported at least 35 deaths, with many more feared.
After affecting Mozambique, the cyclone dissipated over Zimbabwe.
The U.N. refugee agency warned that Cyclone Chido could indicate the beginning of an intense and destructive rainy season, which has historically led to severe flooding and cyclones in the region.
Last year, Tropical Cyclone Freddy caused significant fatalities in Mozambique, and in 2022, Cyclone Gombe resulted in 63 deaths. In recent years, extreme weather has displaced nearly 140,000 people in the country.