Cyclone Chido Leaves Devastation in Southeast Africa, Thousands Feared Dead
Cyclone Chido has left a devastating mark on southeast Africa, affecting Mayotte, Mozambique, and surrounding regions. With potentially thousands dead and many others displaced, the humanitarian situation is dire. Authorities are responding with aid as concerns of cholera emerge. Experts warn this cyclone highlights the region’s vulnerability to climate change, amidst rising temperatures contributing to increased cyclone intensity.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Chido has wreaked havoc across southeast Africa, particularly affecting the French territory of Mayotte and nearby nations like Mozambique. Reports suggest that the cyclone, which reached Category 4 intensity, potentially resulted in thousands of casualties and left many residents homeless and without means of livelihood.
Meteorologist Alex Baker from the University of Reading explained, “Cyclone Chido underwent rapid intensification before landfall in Mauritius, weakened slightly, and then regained its Category 4-equivalent intensity before reaching Mayotte and continuing to Mozambique.” Local authorities in Mayotte estimate the death toll could reach into the hundreds or even thousands as they assess the situation.
Current hospital reports indicate a minimum of 22 fatalities and over a thousand injuries, but many areas remain inaccessible. Some reports suggest that individuals perished and were buried prior to official counts being made. In response, the French government has imposed a curfew to restore order and is dispatching daily supplies of food, water, and medical assistance to the affected regions.
The humanitarian group Médecins du Monde (MDM) alerted that cholera has already begun to spread on the island, with director Jean-François Corty warning, “It might turn into an epidemic if there is no way to ensure efficient access to water.” In Mozambique, the storm’s aftermath has claimed at least 34 lives, while the neighboring Comoros has declared a week of national mourning, anticipating their own fatalities may total in the hundreds.
A recent update from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that Cyclone Chido has affected over 174,000 individuals in Mozambique, alongside significant impacts in Malawi and Comoros. Météo-France noted that Chido is the strongest cyclone to hit Mayotte in over nine decades.
Baker further indicated that the cyclone’s severe impact is largely due to the region’s low-income communities lacking resilience against such disasters. Notably, there were no reported fatalities in Mauritius, although damage to buildings has been reported widely.
The role of climate change in intensifying Cyclone Chido remains inconclusive. Helen Hooker, a meteorologist, stated, “Indian Ocean temperatures have been incredibly high this year, contributing to the strengthening of tropical Cyclone Chido into a Category 4 storm with wind speeds of more than 225 kmh (140 mph).” Meanwhile, Liz Stephens highlighted that increased cyclone intensity in the southwest Indian Ocean aligns with scientific expectations in a changing climate, emphasizing the vulnerability of small islands to these changes.
In summary, Cyclone Chido has led to significant devastation in southeast Africa, particularly affecting Mayotte and Mozambique. Thousands may be feared dead, with extensive injuries reported. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with concerns about waterborne diseases. The cyclone has also highlighted the increasing vulnerability of low-income communities due to climate change, as meteorologists examine the relationship between warming ocean temperatures and cyclone intensity.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
