Cyclone Chido brought powerful winds and heavy rainfall that caused extensive damage to buildings in northern Mozambique on Sunday. The storm, which had earlier wreaked havoc in Mayotte, France's Indian Ocean territory, appeared to lose strength as it moved inland, according to officials.

Cyclone Chido caused widespread destruction in northern Mozambique on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that damaged buildings. The storm, which had already left devastation in Mayotte, France's Indian Ocean territory, appeared to weaken as it moved inland, according to officials.

The cyclone made landfall in the northern provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado early on Saturday, bringing down buildings and cutting power to some areas. Mozambique's weather office had warned of thunderstorms and powerful winds, with gusts reaching speeds of up to 260 kilometers (160 miles) per hour in certain regions. They also predicted more than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain within 24 hours.

In Cabo Delgado, significant damage had already been reported, including the collapse of walls and roofs, as noted by ActionAid Mozambique. The situation in Nampula's Memba district, where the cyclone made landfall, was expected to be severe, though communication with the area was difficult. Several neighborhoods in Nampula were without electricity, making it harder to gather information, the non-governmental group said.

UNICEF reported that many homes, schools, and health facilities had been partially or fully destroyed. The agency is currently assessing the damage and plans to provide medicines, water purification supplies, and other essentials to those affected.

By the afternoon, Chido had moved over Niassa, an inland province, and had weakened, according to Luisa Meque, the president of the National Institute for Risk and Disaster Management. However, the institute had not yet been able to reach all regions to fully assess the damage.

Cyclone Chido's intensity was compared to Cyclone Gombe, which killed more than 60 people in Mozambique in 2022, and Cyclone Freddy, which claimed 86 lives in the country in 2023. Freddy also caused 326 deaths in neighboring Malawi, according to UN figures.

Chido is expected to reach Malawi by Monday, bringing significant rainfall to a country already grappling with drought. Zimbabwe has also issued warnings for heavy rains related to the cyclone. The storm has already claimed at least 14 lives in Mayotte, though authorities say it will take several days to determine the full extent of the damage.