Impact of Tropical Cyclones on the Southwestern Indian Ocean: A…

Tropical Cyclone Chido significantly impacted the Southwestern Indian Ocean from December 2024, leading to 172 deaths, widespread infrastructure damage, and displacing over 135,800 people, particularly in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Mayotte. Cyclone Dikeledi followed in January 2025, causing additional disruptions. Severe flooding has further compounded the humanitarian crisis. Preparedness and resources are crucial for upcoming cyclone threats.

Tropical Cyclone Chido emerged as a destructive force during the 2024/2025 Cyclone Season, significantly impacting the Southwestern Indian Ocean region. On December 11, Chido intensified to a Category 4 cyclone with sustained winds of 220 km/h. By December 30, at least 172 fatalities had been reported, affecting Mozambique, Mayotte, and Malawi, alongside thousands of injuries and widespread destruction of infrastructure. This cyclone impacted more than 135,800 individuals in Madagascar, causing severe structural damage and flooding from subsequent heavy rains.

The Comoros government observed a week of mourning due to the cyclone, which directly affected 64,167 residents across Anjouan and Moheli islands, with 171 families losing their homes. A staggering 45% of crops were damaged, and educational infrastructure including nine schools suffered extensive damage. In Mayotte, approximately 230,000 people, accounting for 70% of the population, faced severe disruptions due to the destruction of nearly 35,000 homes and damage to vital facilities including hospitals and airports.

Initial rapid assessments in Mozambique indicated that Cyclone Chido impacted 90,640 households, translating to over 455,000 individuals across several provinces. Hundreds of homes sustained complete destruction, highlighting a total of over 104,000 damaged shelters. Malawi witnessed nearly 46,000 individuals affected by high winds that destroyed homes, with continued rainfall effects due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) further stressing relief efforts.

Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi subsequently hit northern Madagascar on January 11, 2025, marking its landfall with heavy rainfall affecting over 7,000 people and damaging approximately 1,000 homes. Schools resumed in some areas by January 13, though about 8,000 children experienced disruptions from damaged classrooms. Upon moving to Mozambique, Dikeledi intensified with sustained winds of 150 km/h, affecting areas already damaged by Chido. Preliminary assessments showed severe destruction of housing and initiated evacuation protocols in Nampula province.

In late February 2025, Moderate Tropical Storm Honde and Severe Tropical Storm Garance developed, further raising concerns of devastation. Honde affected southern Madagascar, impacting nearly 100,000 individuals with over 10,000 homes demolished. Garance caused widespread service disruptions in La Réunion and minimal damage in Mauritius, showcasing varying impacts across the region.

Severe flooding exacerbated by ongoing heavy rains revealed critical vulnerabilities across Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique. In February 2025, more than 2,800 people were displaced in Madagascar, while Malawi reported over 40,000 households affected by flooding through early March. Mozambique faced rising river levels with substantial flood risk initiated by early action protocols for vulnerable communities to mitigate impacts.

The emergencies surrounding Chido and Dikeledi pinpoint the urgency of preparedness, resilience, and readiness within affected areas. This Emergency Appeal aims to bolster humanitarian efforts, enhance the readiness of National Societies, and fortify at-risk communities as the cyclone season progresses.

The impact of Tropical Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi has emphasized the vulnerability of communities in the Southwestern Indian Ocean region, with multiple fatalities, extensive property damage, and significant humanitarian needs. As additional cyclones and flooding events unfold, ongoing preparedness and proactive measures are crucial. The Emergency Appeal seeks to strengthen the response capacities of authorities and local Red Cross organizations, ensuring comprehensive support for affected populations through the end of the cyclone season and beyond.

Original Source: reliefweb.int