Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi struck Madagascar on January 11, 2025, affecting over 5,000 people, causing three deaths, and displacing 352 individuals. Significant damage included flooded houses and destroyed schools, with 750 children unable to attend classes. The cyclone later impacted Nampula Province, Mozambique, where severe weather conditions persist and further disturbances are expected in surrounding regions.
On January 11, 2025, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi impacted the northern region of Madagascar, bringing substantial rainfall and fierce winds. Approximately 5,216 individuals have been affected, with confirmed reports of three fatalities and 352 individuals displaced across six temporary shelter sites. The cyclone’s destruction extended to educational facilities, leaving 750 children without access to schooling as over 60 schools suffered significant damage.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) recorded severe infrastructural damage, including nearly 1,300 flooded houses and 370 properties damaged, with 11 completely destroyed. In addition, 20 classrooms were reported as destroyed and 49 others suffered partial damage, impacting a projected 22,500 children in the cyclone’s anticipated path, as indicated by Save the Children.
The cyclone subsequently made landfall in Nampula Province, Mozambique, on January 13, resulting in flooding and dangerous weather conditions across Nampula, Cabo Delgado, and Zambezia Provinces. The National Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (INGD) warned of destructive winds reaching 150 kilometers per hour and torrential rains exceeding 200 mm within a 24-hour period, generating hazardous seas and a risk of marine submersion.
Authorities predict that Dikeledi will traverse Nampula Province, gradually steering southward, with a return to the Mozambique Channel expected by January 14 or 15. This movement could lead the cyclone to reintensify, potentially reaching intense cyclone levels while approaching the southern coast of Madagascar. Disruptions are anticipated in Sofala and Manica provinces on January 15 and 16, as additional thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecasted.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi has caused significant disruptions in Madagascar and Mozambique, impacting thousands of individuals through fatalities, displacements, and infrastructural damage. Ongoing humanitarian efforts are crucial for providing relief to the affected populations as the situation evolves with continued severe weather forecasts. The cyclone will further impact regions in Mozambique, necessitating the monitoring of its trajectory and future developments.
Original Source: www.unocha.org
