Tropical Cyclone Chido initiated the destructive 2024/2025 cyclone season in the Southwestern Indian Ocean, causing significant casualties and damage in Madagascar, Mozambique, and the Comoros. Following Chido, Cyclone Dikeledi further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, resulting in extensive flooding and displacement across the region. The storms have underscored the urgent need for effective emergency responses and increased community resilience amid ongoing weather threats.
Tropical Cyclone Chido marked the beginning of the 2024/2025 cyclone season in the Southwestern Indian Ocean, causing significant devastation across Madagascar, Mozambique, and other regions. Chido escalated to a Category 4 cyclone with wind speeds reaching 220 km/h, resulting in substantial casualties and injuries—172 fatalities and over 6,300 injuries as reported by December 30. More than 135,800 individuals in Madagascar faced major infrastructure damage and subsequent flooding threats due to heavy rains following the cyclone’s landfall.
In the Comoros Islands, Cyclone Chido prompted a week of mourning after impacting 64,167 people, damaging homes and infrastructure. In Mayotte, around 230,000 individuals were severely affected, with the cyclone destroying 35,000 homes and impairing vital services, rendering thousands homeless and in emergency shelters. Further assessments in Mozambique indicated significant destruction with approximately 104,539 homes damaged, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in the affected provinces.
Cyclone Dikeledi subsequently struck Madagascar on January 11, 2025, affecting over 7,000 individuals and damaging around 1,000 homes. Despite schools reopening shortly afterward, classroom disruptions impacted over 8,000 children. Dikeledi then made landfall in Mozambique, striking areas previously affected by Chido and significantly damaging further infrastructure. Preliminary estimates indicated that approximately 56,729 households were affected in Mozambique, with substantial housing damage reported.
Two additional storms, Honde and Garance, emerged in February 2025, further complicating the disaster landscape. Honde struck southern Madagascar, impacting nearly 100,000 people, while Garance affected La Réunion, causing widespread power and water disruptions. Increased flooding across Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis due to torrential rains and cyclone impacts, displacing thousands and leading to numerous fatalities.
As flooding concerns escalate, Madagascar witnessed significant displacements from recent floods in Antananarivo. Malawi reported 40,178 households affected by flooding across central and southern regions by early March. Extreme preparations and anticipatory actions are underway to mitigate the risks of further flooding as rainfall persists.
The impacts of Tropical Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, along with subsequent storms, have resulted in widespread devastation across Madagascar, Mozambique, and the Comoros Islands. With significant casualties, injuries, and infrastructural damage reported, the need for ongoing humanitarian support and preparedness initiatives is critical as affected communities brace for additional storms and flooding. Effective response strategies are essential for the resilience of these regions amid an anticipated above-average cyclone season.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
