Tropical cyclones have been identified as a significant risk factor for the death of children under the age of five in low- and middle-income countries, according to a recent study led by Renjie Chen from Fudan University, China, and published in PLOS Medicine.
These severe storms, which encompass typhoons and hurricanes, are increasingly common and intense due to climate change. This has raised concerns about their impact on young children, who are particularly vulnerable to the dangers posed by cyclones such as drowning, injuries from strong winds and flying debris, lack of access to clean water, and disruptions in healthcare services. Previous research has typically focused on individual cyclone events or high-income regions, leaving a gap in understanding the effects on countries with limited resources.
To assess the effects of tropical cyclones on the health of young children in low- and middle-income countries, the researchers analyzed survey data to identify deaths following a cyclone event. By comparing the survival of siblings of the same age, they were able to determine if a death was linked to the cyclone. The study included data from 100,798 children under the age of five who had passed away, as well as 247,445 surviving siblings across 34 countries.
The analysis revealed a significant association between the deaths of children under five and exposure to a cyclone in the month prior to their passing. The study estimated that cyclones were responsible for the deaths of approximately 850,000 children under five between 2000 and 2020 globally. These findings highlight the critical need for disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions to mitigate the number of child deaths related to cyclones.
The researchers emphasized the urgency of disaster preparedness measures that ensure access to safe water, sanitation, and healthcare services for at-risk communities. The study, titled “Cyclone exposure and mortality risk of children under 5 years old: An observational study in 34 low- and middle-income countries,” was published in PLOS Medicine in 2025. The DOI for the study is 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004735.
This research underscores the importance of addressing the impact of tropical cyclones on child mortality in low- and middle-income countries and highlights the need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations from the devastating effects of these storms.
