MORONI, Comoros — On Friday, the Indian Ocean islands of Comoros, Madagascar, and Mayotte prepared for the arrival of Cyclone Chido, which is rapidly approaching the eastern coast of Africa.
The Comoros archipelago has announced the closure of schools in anticipation of the storm making landfall early Saturday. First, however, Chido is expected to sweep past the northern coast of Madagascar. Additionally, Mayotte, a French territory located south of Comoros, has been placed under a red alert by the French national weather service, marking the highest level of warning starting Friday night.
On the mainland, Mozambique has also issued a red alert for its northern provinces, Cabo Delgado and Nampula, warning that over 2 million individuals could be at risk when the cyclone impacts the continent, likely early Sunday. The Mozambique National Meteorological Institute predicts wind speeds could reach 200 kph (124 mph).
“Our preliminary estimates indicate that around 2.5 million people in Cabo Delgado and Nampula may be affected and will require evacuation assistance,” stated Ana Cristina, head of the National Emergency Operations Center, according to local reports.
Zimbabwe, despite being landlocked, is also anticipating repercussions from Cyclone Chido, as officials prepare for the storm’s reach.
In Madagascar, authorities have utilized mobile alerts and radio broadcasts since Thursday to urge residents to take safety measures, particularly as evacuations occur in the northern region of Diana, where conditions are expected to be the most severe. Officials warn that nearly 20,000 people in this area could be affected by the cyclone.
Aid is already being dispatched to Madagascar, with food, water pumps, generators, and chainsaws being delivered to the northern regions since Tuesday.
The French government is mobilizing approximately 110 personnel to Mayotte to assist in dealing with the impending damage, including emergency responders from mainland France and firefighters from Reunion. They are bringing three tons of emergency supplies, which include search dogs and experts in rubble rescue, as reported by Col. Frédéric Leguillier, head of Mayotte’s fire and rescue service.
The cyclone season in this region typically spans from December to March, having recently endured numerous powerful storms originating in the Indian Ocean. Past cyclones, such as Idai in 2019, resulted in over 1,300 deaths across Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, while Cyclone Freddy claimed more than 1,000 lives in various countries last year.
Studies indicate that the frequency and intensity of these storms may be increasing due to climate change.
Crisis24, a risk assessment firm, has reported that Cyclone Chido could trigger severe flooding and landslides, and standing water left in the aftermath may lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera, as seen after Idai, alongside increased risks of dengue fever and malaria.
