The number of fatalities caused by Cyclone Chido, a powerful storm that hit northern Mozambique last weekend, has risen to 94, with 768 people reported injured, according to the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD).
Cyclone Chido made landfall on December 15, bringing heavy rains and fierce winds that left a trail of destruction across Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. The disaster has impacted over 622,000 people, representing more than 123,000 families, and damaged or destroyed over 140,000 homes, the INGD reported.
Public infrastructure also suffered heavily, with damage reported to 250 schools, 89 public buildings, 52 health facilities, and extensive agricultural land, exacerbating the region’s existing challenges.
The INGD has set up two accommodation centers to shelter 1,349 displaced individuals, but the scale of the devastation has created significant hurdles for relief and recovery efforts.
In a televised address on Thursday, President Filipe Nyusi declared two days of national mourning, offering condolences to the victims’ families and all those affected by the disaster.
Authorities and international aid organizations continue to call for urgent support to meet the needs of the affected communities and assist in rebuilding efforts.