Lilongwe: The death toll from the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Chido in Malawi has risen to 13, with more than 45,000 people affected by heavy rains that battered the country between Sunday and Tuesday, local authorities reported on Wednesday.
Charles Kalemba, Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), said the cyclone had also left 29 people injured, up from 16 injuries reported on Tuesday.
Kalemba noted that the total number of affected households had risen to 10,159, impacting around 45,162 people. Among them, 227 individuals have been displaced.
By Tuesday, the cyclone had exited Malawi, leaving a trail of destruction and sustained heavy rains in the country’s southern region.
The DoDMA, in collaboration with various humanitarian partners, is providing relief assistance to the impacted communities, Xinhua news agency reported.
The cyclone left a trail of destruction as it blew off roofs of dwelling houses and public infrastructure on the way.
Chido originated as a tropical depression in the southeastern Indian Ocean basin between December 7 and 8.
Cyclone Chido is a tropical depression is characterised by a region of low atmospheric pressure over an ocean, accompanied by a circular wind pattern generated by thunderstorms. These systems exhibit maximum sustained wind speeds of 61 km/h or lower.
Should a tropical depression strengthen, it can evolve into a tropical storm, which is defined by wind speeds ranging from 62 km/h to 119 km/h. Winds exceeding this threshold classify the system as a tropical cyclone.
The terminology surrounding these systems can be somewhat confusing. In the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and northeastern Pacific Ocean, tropical cyclones are referred to as hurricanes. Conversely, in the western Pacific Ocean, they are known as typhoons, while in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the term cyclone is used.
Cyclone Chido moved to Malawi on Monday and was expected to dissipate Tuesday near Zimbabwe, which had also been on alert for heavy rains caused by the storm.
(IANS)
