
The death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique has increased to 94, according to the country’s disaster management agency.
The cyclone made landfall in northern Mozambique a week ago, with earlier estimates placing the death toll at 73.
The storm significantly affected the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, one of France’s poorest overseas territories. While officials in Mayotte have confirmed 35 fatalities, there are fears that the actual number could be much higher.
Olamide Harrison, the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative in Mozambique, indicated on Wednesday that the country’s economic growth forecast for 2024 may be revised downward from 4.3% due to the cyclone’s impact and subsequent civil unrest following recent elections.
In October, Daniel Chapo, the candidate from Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, was declared the winner of the presidential election. The ongoing recovery efforts from Cyclone Chido, combined with the political climate, pose significant challenges for the nation as it grapples with the aftermath of the disaster.