Death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique rises to 94

MAPUTO, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Cyclone Chido, a powerful tropical cyclone that struck northern Mozambique last weekend, has climbed to 94, while the number of injured has risen to 768, according to the latest update from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD).

The cyclone, which made landfall on Dec. 15 with devastating downpours and storms, caused widespread destruction in Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa provinces. More than 123,000 families, equivalent to 622,610 people, have been affected, and more than 140,000 houses were partly or completely destroyed, the national disaster relief agency noted.

The report also highlighted severe impacts on public infrastructure, with 250 schools, 89 public buildings, and 52 health units damaged. Additionally, vast agricultural areas were inundated, compounding the region's vulnerabilities.

To aid the victims, the INGD has established two accommodation centers, currently housing 1,349 people. However, the scope of the destruction poses significant challenges for recovery and humanitarian assistance.

In a televised speech from the Presidential Palace Thursday night, President Filipe Nyusi announced the decree of two-day national mourning, sending his condolences to the families of the victims and to those affected by the calamity.

Authorities and international humanitarian organizations continue to appeal for support to address the urgent needs of affected communities. ■