Tropical Cyclone Chido: Impact Assessment and Emergency Response in Southern Africa
Tropical Cyclone Chido has struck Mayotte and the Comoros, with forecasts indicating potential flooding and mudslides affecting 2.5 million people. Mozambique, Malawi, and the Comoros are at risk as Chido approaches landfall on December 15, 2024. Regional authorities are responding with emergency plans and advisories amid serious weather conditions.
As of December 14, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Chido is causing severe weather across Southern Africa, having already impacted Mayotte and the Comoros with intense winds and heavy rainfall, precipitating flooding conditions. The cyclone poses a risk to approximately 2.5 million individuals in its projected trajectory, with over 1.7 million in Mozambique, 440,000 in Malawi, and nearly 370,000 in the Comoros. Chido’s trajectory indicates it will make landfall in northern Mozambique on December 15, 2024, bringing damaging winds and rising seas to coastal areas. The southern regions of Malawi are also expected to experience significant rainfall and strong winds from December 15 to 16, 2024.
In the Comoros, considerable damage has already occurred, evidenced by reports of destroyed homes and infrastructure, particularly in Anjouan. In northern Mozambique, damaging weather conditions will likely continue to develop, with forecasts predicting heavy rainfall that could lead to flash floods and mudslides across several countries including Zimbabwe and Zambia. Regional and national authorities are actively issuing advisories and implementing emergency response measures to mitigate the storm’s impact, including the activation of emergency operation centers and prepositioning relief supplies in high-risk areas.
Tropical Cyclone Chido has emerged as a significant weather event in the Indian Ocean, developing on December 7, 2024, and escalating to a Category 4 cyclone by December 10 before weakening. The cyclone passed north of Madagascar on December 12 without reported damage, prompting the lifting of warnings there but maintaining rough sea conditions. The impending trajectory across the northern Mozambique Channel towards Mozambique indicates severe weather conditions including potential for extensive flooding, which has historically resulted from such cyclonic activity in this region.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Chido is poised to affect millions across Southern Africa with its anticipated landfall set for December 15, 2024, in northern Mozambique. The storm has already resulted in considerable damage in the Comoros, with ongoing assessments and emergency preparations in place across affected regions. Authorities are mobilizing resources to ensure a coordinated response to the challenges posed by this severe weather event, highlighting the importance of preparedness and rapid humanitarian response in the face of natural disasters.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
