He Tropical Cyclone Chido It is moving across the Indian Ocean towards the coast of Mozambique and could affect five other African countries along its path, as well as causing heavy rain elsewhere in eastern and southern Africa.

According to calculations by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Almost 2.7 million people will be affected due to the storm in six countries in the region: the island nations of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, and the mainland countries of Mozambique and Malawi.

In addition, other countries in the region such as Zimbabwe or Zambia are expected to receive heavy rain associated with a cyclone.

Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, southern Tanzania and parts of northeastern South Africa may also be affected during Chido.

The storm is currently moving between the north of Madagascar and the archipelagos of the Seychelles and Comoros islands, where heavy rain is expected this Sunday.

Intense cyclone #Chido frappe Mayotte de plein fouet. Rafali observed the area at a speed of 200 km/h. Il s’agit d’un Cyclone d’une mpleur inédite in Mayotte after more than 90 years.
🔴Mayotte on alert, red cyclonic @Prefet976 pic.twitter.com/TrigsQIP9J

— Meteo-France (@meteofrance) December 14, 2024

Despite warnings in Madagascar, the cyclone caused only minor property damage in the northern third of the island, according to the National Office of Natural Disaster and Risk Management (BNGRC).

Chido took place last weekend in the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean basin and began to move west. Although it strengthened to a Category 4 (severe typhoon) on Tuesday, it weakened to a Category 3 on Friday.

It is expected to maintain “significant intensity (tropical cyclone or intense tropical cyclone)” over the next few hours, according to UNOCHA.

According to the weather forecast, Chido may strengthen again before hitting the northern coast of Mozambique as an intense tropical cyclone this Sunday morning.

“With heavy rains of up to 200 millimeters in 24 hours and winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, Cyclone Chido has the same intensity as Cyclones Gombe (2022) and Freddie (2023). Around 1.7 million people are affected, including one million in Cabo Delgado (northern Mozambique), where the risk of winds exceeds 120 kilometers per hour,” OCHA warned in a statement released this Friday.

🌀 CYCLONE IN MAYOTTE: The situation in the archipelago is getting worse every minute. Wind increases the danger of use when a cyclone approaches #Chido. The lobby millers are without power and the rooms are empty. #CycloneChido pic.twitter.com/PcJlDq9cV4

— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) December 14, 2024

There is a “more than 60% chance” that the “remnants” of the cyclone will reach Malawi and cause “significant rainfall” in the country before Monday, the UN office said.

“Preparedness efforts continue, including the dissemination of warnings to at-risk groups and the movement of humanitarian supplies, preventive evacuations and the pre-deployment of personnel to support local coordination,” OCHA assured.

EFE