MAPUTO: Cyclone Chido slammed into Mozambique early Sunday, bringing gale-force winds and heavy rain after leaving a trail of death and destruction in France’s Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte.
The cyclone appeared to have intensified as it crossed the Mozambique Channel overnight to make landfall around 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the northern city of Pemba, weather services said.
“The cyclone is already affecting Pemba with a very strong intensity. We were monitoring the situation but there is no communication with Pemba since 7 am (0500 GMT),” National Institute of Meteorology director Aderito Aramuge told AFP.
UNICEF said it was on the ground to help the people impacted by the storm, which had already caused some damage.
“Many homes, schools and health facilities have been partially or completely destroyed and we are working closely with government to ensure continuity of essential basic services,” it said in a statement.
The storm was expected to bring thunderstorms and strong winds with gusts of up to 260 kilometres per hour to the Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, the Mozambique weather service said. More than 250 millimetres (10 inches) of precipitation were expected in 24 hours, it added.
Video images from Pemba showed heavy rain and trees bent by the wind. There were reports that some homes had been damaged by the storm.
The cyclone killed at least 14 people in Mayotte, a security source told AFP Sunday in an updated provisional toll.