Southern Africa: Tropical Cyclone Chido - Flash Update No. 6, as of 18 December 2024

Highlights

• The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Chido, which made landfall in Mozambique on 15 December, has risen to 45, with 184,000 people affected. The most impacted provinces are Cabo Delgado and Nampula.
• In Malawi, 45,000 people have been affected, with 13 reported deaths as of 18 December.
• Humanitarian partners are conducting assessments and distributing essential supplies in affected areas.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on 15 December, wreaking havoc mainly in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces in the north. It has left 45 people dead (37 in Cabo Delgado, 5 in Nampula and 3 in Niassa), 493 injured and 184,000 people affected, according to the National Institute for Natural Disaster (INGD) as of 17 December. More than 35,000 houses have been destroyed or severely damaged, while approximately 48 health centres and 149 schools were damaged. The most heavily impacted province was Cabo Delgado with at least 128,000 people impacted and 25,000 homes affected.

Chido made landfall in the Mecufi District of Cabo Delgado Province, with winds reaching around 260 km/h, heavy rainfall of approximately 250 mm within 24 hours and severe thunderstorms. Some 9,531 houses were either damaged or destroyed in Nampula and Niassa affecting 46,631 people (8,624 families), according to preliminary reports from the Camp Coordination and Camp Management teams. Data collection is still underway in several districts, including in Cabo Delgado. The preliminary results from the joint assessment in Chiure, Cabo Delgado on 16 December, indicates most houses and buildings are affected (60 per cent roofs blown off and 40 per cent destroyed). All resettlement centres, for people previously displaced mainly due to conflict, were severely affected and some temporary shelters for Chido are destroyed, with no access to electricity. The priorities are food, water, sanitation, shelter and survival kits to help communities recover. Chido dissipated on 17 December near Zimbabwe.

In Malawi, Chido has left 13 people dead, 29 injured, 227 displaced and 45,162 people (10,159 families) affected compared to 34,741 reported yesterday, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).

In Mayotte, the death toll increased to 22 people, 1,373 are injured including 45 people in life-threatening condition as of 18 December, according to the French Ministry of Interior. Curfew measures between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. were put in place from 17 December to prevent looting. Some public service buildings were severely damaged, but the services remain operational. The Mamoudzou hospital has been badly hit, especially the emergency and intensive care units, but it is gradually resuming its activities. The roads are currently being cleared, but between 30 and 25 per cent of the road network remains inaccessible. In the 17 municipalities, the main roads have been cleared and public buildings (hospital and courthouse) are accessible. Tap water remains undrinkable for several days, however, the majority of the island has access to non-potable water, reserved exclusively for sanitary use. Access to drinking water remains limited, with its restoration being a priority for authorities. The mobile phone network remains unavailable for 80 per cent of the population.

Between 7 and 8 December, Tropical depression Chido developed in the south-eastern Indian Ocean Basin, progressing westward. On 10 December, Chido strengthened reaching the stage of Tropical Cyclone Category 4 (severe typhoon category) but weakened again to Category 3 on 13 December. It passed close to the north of Madagascar on 12 December then near Glorioso, then Mayotte and the Comoros on 14 December before making landfall on 15 December in the Mecufi District of Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique. The system moved to Malawi on 16 December and re-entered Mozambique, passing over Tete Province and dissipated near Zimbabwe on 17 December.