Cyclone Chido devastates Mayotte and Mozambique, leaves dozens dead

Cyclone Chido has claimed at least 34 lives in Mozambique, with 174,158 people affected and 319 injured, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, citing Mozambique’s disaster authority.

The cyclone made landfall on Sunday, causing widespread destruction along the eastern coast of southern Africa. The French overseas territory of Mayotte, a Muslim-majority region, bore the brunt of the storm before it moved on to Mozambique.

Officials fear that hundreds, or even thousands, may have died in Mayotte, where widespread devastation has made many areas inaccessible. Confirmed casualties include 22 dead and over 1,400 injured, according to Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, mayor of the capital Mamoudzou.

Authorities in Mayotte are scrambling to deliver food and water while battling the risks of hunger, disease, and unrest. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear as rescue efforts continue.