The swirling wind and rain hit an area where a yearslong insurgency had already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Mozambique began constructing homes for victims of Cyclone Chido this week after the storm swept through three of the country's northern regions Sunday, killing at least 70 people and injuring 600 others as it left behind a trail of destruction.

Authorities in Mayotte were racing on Tuesday to stop hunger, disease and lawlessness from spreading in the French overseas territory after the weekend’s devastating cyclone, while Mozambique reported dozens of deaths from the storm.

Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, after wreaking havoc in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. Hundreds are feared dead in Mayotte - a French overseas region - and several people - including more than 200 Red Cross volunteers - are thought to be missing.

Cyclone Chido has claimed at least 34 lives and caused widespread destruction across Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management confirmed on Tuesday. The powerful storm, which made landfall earlier this week,

Cyclone Chido has killed at least 73 people in Mozambique, the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management said Thursday, raising the death toll from the figure of 45 it announced the day before.

The cyclone, which struck on Saturday, levelled entire neighbourhoods, leaving heavy destruction in the capital. Local reports confirm at least 20 deaths, but officials fear the true toll could be far higher.