By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – 34 deaths and 319 injuries have been confirmed since Cyclone Chido struck northern Mozambique on 14 December.
According to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD), Cabo Delgado was the province that recorded the largest number of deaths – 28 – while there were three deaths each in Nampula and Niassa.
According to the preliminary data released by the INGD to the media on Tuesday, by 18.00 on 16 December, the cyclone had caused injuries to 319 people, 300 of whom were in Cabo Delgado,16 in Nampula and three in Niassa.
To date, the cyclone has affected 34,219 households (equivalent to 174,518 people). The greatest impact was on Cabo Delgado with 127,964 households affected.
The cyclone, with winds of up to 260 kilometres an hour and rains of 250 mm in 24 hours, destroyed 23,598 houses and damaged a further 11,744. Also affected were 34 health units, nine schools and five places of worship.
The INGD adds that the cyclone was responsible for the interruption of the mobile phone signal in Cabo Delgado. Our source in the provincial capital, Pemba, Zefa Abdo, confirmed this. He told MOZTIMES that there is no communication with people in Mecufi district, because there is no electricity, and several pylons have been knocked to the ground.
“In Mecúfi everything is desolate. Pylons are on the ground, and since Sunday until now, there has been no electricity. I’ve just arrived home and I can’t communicate with other people. Even leaving the house isn’t easy, and to charge my phone, I had to pay 50 meticais” said Abdo. He explained that in his yard, zinc sheeting blew away and the house collapsed last Sunday.
The INGD also stresses that the situation is particularly worrying in the neighbouring provinces of Niassa, Manica and Zambézia which remain on alert, even though the strength of the cyclone has declined to that of a level two storm, bringing hope of more moderate impacts.
It should be noted that, in the past five years, Mozambique was struck by another three cyclones: Idai, in March 2019, Kenneth just a month later, and Freddy, in February 2023, which together resulted in over 1,100 deaths and damage running into billions of dollars. (NM)
