By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The death toll from tropical cyclone Chido in the northern Mozambican provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Niassa has risen from 34 to 45.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Management Institute (INGD), announced on Wednesday (18 December) in Maputo, indicate that, in addition to the fatalities, the number of injuries has also risen, from 319 to 493.
The province that recorded the largest number of deaths was Cabo Delgado, with 38, followed by Nampula with four, and Niassa with three. As for injuries, there were 466 in Cabo Delgado, 24 in Nampula and three in Niassa.
The intense tropical cyclone, with its thunderstorms, high winds and torrential rains, affected 35,689 households (equivalent to 181,554 people) in Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces.
According to the INGD, 23,931 houses were destroyed, and 12,276 were damaged. The number of health units affected rose from 34 to 48, and 13 places of worship were also damaged.
In the education sector, 598 classrooms were destroyed. Classes were compromised by the cyclone for 15,429 pupils and 224 teachers.
186 electricity pylons were knocked over by the storm, restricting access to the electricity grid in the region. (NM)
