Cyclone Chido Strikes Southeast Africa: Thousands Feared Dead

Cyclone Chido has devastated southeast Africa, particularly impacting Mayotte and Mozambique, leading to thousands feared dead and many displaced. Measures are being implemented for recovery, including curfews and aid deliveries. The cyclone’s strength raises concerns about climate change effects on small island nations and their vulnerabilities to extreme weather events.

Intense Tropical Cyclone Chido, originating in the southwest Indian Ocean, wreaked havoc on the French territory of Mayotte and surrounding regions, including Mozambique. Initial reports suggest that thousands may have perished, leaving many residents homeless and destitute. Meteorologist Alex Baker indicated that the cyclone intensified rapidly prior to its landfall in Mauritius, subsequently reaching Category 4 intensity as it approached Mayotte and continued onward to Mozambique.

Local officials in Mayotte are uncertain about the full extent of the devastation, yet they caution that the death toll may rise significantly. Initial hospital records confirm at least 22 fatalities and over a thousand injuries, though many areas remain unreachable. Reports from Reuters note that some victims were buried before an official count could be taken.

To restore order in Mayotte, the French government has enacted a curfew and is deploying planes daily to deliver essential supplies, including food, water, and medicine amounting to 50 tons. Aid organization Médecins du Monde has warned of a cholera outbreak, with potential for an epidemic if access to clean water is not secured, highlighting comments from director Jean-François Corty regarding the situation’s urgency.

In Mozambique, recent reports confirm at least 34 deaths, while a week of national mourning was declared in the Comoros, as officials anticipate deaths could reach several hundreds. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has indicated that the cyclone has impacted over 174,000 individuals in Mozambique, 34,000 in Malawi, and 64,000 in the Comoros.

French meteorological agency Météo-France stated that Cyclone Chido is the most powerful cyclone to strike Mayotte in over nine decades. Alex Baker noted that the extensive destruction results largely from the region’s vulnerability and economic fragility. Furthermore, no casualties were reported in Mauritius, although substantial infrastructural damage occurred there.

The link between climate change and Cyclone Chido remains unclear, although meteorologist Helen Hooker remarked that exceptionally high Indian Ocean temperatures this year may have contributed to the cyclone’s development. Similarly, Professor Liz Stephens indicated that intensified tropical cyclones in the southwest Indian Ocean align with scientific expectations regarding climate change impacts, underscoring the vulnerability of smaller islands.

In summary, Cyclone Chido has created a humanitarian crisis in southeast Africa, particularly affecting Mayotte and Mozambique, with thousands feared dead and countless others displaced. Authorities are addressing the urgent need for aid to mitigate health risks and stabilize impacted regions. The cyclone’s magnitude and intensity raise pressing concerns about the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, emphasizing the need for increased resilience and preparedness in the face of such natural disasters.

Original Source: news.mongabay.com