Cyclone Jude 2025: Path, Impacts, and Recovery Efforts in Southern Africa
🌪️ Tropical Cyclone Jude Track and Intensity
Cyclone Jude made landfall on March 10, 2025 in Mozambique's Nampula Province as a Category 1 storm with:
- Sustained winds: 140 km/h (87 mph)
- Peak gusts: 195 km/h (121 mph)
- Rainfall: 250+ mm in 24 hours
- Storm surge: Waves up to 8m high
The cyclone originated in the Southwest Indian Ocean Basin, rapidly intensifying before striking near Ilha de Moçambique. After impacting northern Mozambique from March 9-12, Jude crossed southern Madagascar on March 15 before dissipating over the Indian Ocean.
🚨 Cyclone Jude's Devastating Impacts
Affected Countries & Regions
- Mozambique (Nampula, Zambezia, Tete, Niassa and Sofala provinces)
- Madagascar (Southern region)
- Malawi (13 southern districts)
Human Toll
- 16 confirmed deaths (13 in Nampula, 2 in Zambezia, 1 in Niassa)
- 2 people missing
- 59 people injured (21 hospitalized)
- 302,653 people affected in Mozambique
- 14,000+ people affected in Madagascar
- 11,000+ people affected in Malawi
- 2,000 people evacuated to 9 evacuation centers in Mozambique
- 3,000+ people displaced in Malawi
Infrastructure Damage
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Houses | 20,241 damaged or destroyed in Mozambique |
| 4,000+ damaged or destroyed in Madagascar | |
| Health Facilities | 69 damaged in Nampula province |
| Power Outages | 272,757 people affected |
| Cropland | 13,982 hectares flooded |
| Roads | Multiple major highways damaged (R681, N104, R703, R696, R698) |
| Electricity Infrastructure | US$1.6 million in damages |
🏥 Health Crisis & Emergency Response
Health Concerns
- Cholera outbreak in Nampula:
- 56 new cases reported on March 14
- Nampula City: 37 cases
- Larde district: 13 cases
- Murrupula: 6 cases
Emergency Response Challenges
- Road Access: Major routes blocked by flooding and bridge collapses
- Fuel Shortages: Critical shortage in Cabo Delgado affecting humanitarian operations
- Communication: Network disruptions in multiple districts
- Security: Illegal checkpoints hampering aid delivery
📍 District-Specific Impacts
Angoche District
- 1,730 people affected
- 346 houses damaged/destroyed
- 4 health facilities damaged
- 14 classrooms impacted (3,193 students affected)
- Power and communication disruptions
Ilha de Moçambique District
- 400 families in Entete accommodation center
- Water supply compromised
- Emergency water trucking from Nacala dam
Mecuburi District
- Bridge collapse isolating communities
- Multiple families displaced to local schools
🌍 Historical Context: Mozambique's Cyclone Crisis
Jude marks Mozambique's third major cyclone in 4 months:
- Cyclone Chido (December 2024):
- 120 deaths
- 120,000 homes damaged
- Cyclone Dikeledi (January 2025):
- 5 fatalities
- 3,500 homes destroyed
🔮 Recovery Efforts & Future Outlook
- Copernicus Emergency Management Service activated in rapid mapping mode
- INGD conducting comprehensive damage assessments
- WFP distributing emergency supplies in accessible areas
- EDM working to restore power infrastructure
- Continued rainfall expected over northern and central coastal Mozambique
"The impact of these recurring cyclones highlights the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and climate resilience in the region." - National Institute for Disaster Risk Management