PRETORIA, December 19. /TASS/. The death toll in Mozambique from the effects of tropical cyclone Chido, which struck the northern and central regions of the country on December 15, has risen to 45, the Club of Mozambique portal reported, citing the National Disaster Risk Management Institute.

Gale-force winds and floods caused by heavy rains have resulted in the deaths of 45 people, while over 500 others have sustained injuries of varying severity. In total, 174,000 Mozambican residents have been affected by the hurricane, and more than 35,000 buildings have been damaged.

Earlier reports indicated 34 fatalities.

At the cyclone's center, wind speeds reached 60 m/s, accompanied by torrential rain. The hardest-hit provinces were Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa, where power lines were downed, and roads flooded. The National Institute confirmed that Chido has moved out of Mozambican territory and is no longer a threat.

The cyclone formed between December 7 and 8 in the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It then moved westward toward the African coast. The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean was the first to be impacted, where the death toll reached 31. From Mozambique, Chido then advanced west, affecting Zimbabwe and Malawi. In Malawi, the storm caused 13 deaths, damaged numerous structures, and left 45,000 people homeless.