Aerial footage revealed the devastation of hundreds of makeshift homes scattered across the hills of one of Mayotte’s islands.
Paris:
Several hundred people, possibly even thousands, are feared dead after the most powerful cyclone in nearly a century struck the French Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, according to a senior local French official on Sunday.
“I believe there will certainly be several hundred casualties, possibly reaching a thousand, or even several thousand,” said Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville in an interview with local media channel Mayotte La 1ere.
When asked about the death toll from Cyclone Chido, the French interior ministry stated that it would be difficult to account for all victims and that no definitive number could be determined at this stage.
Cyclone Chido, which hit Mayotte overnight, brought winds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph), causing extensive damage to homes, government buildings, and a hospital. It was the strongest storm to strike the islands in over 90 years, according to Meteo-France.
“Honestly, what we’re experiencing is a tragedy. It feels like the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighborhood disappear,” said Mohamed Ishmael, a resident of Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou, in a phone interview with Reuters.
Aerial footage shared by the French gendarmerie showed the wreckage of numerous makeshift homes scattered across the hills of one of Mayotte’s islands, an area that has been a hotspot for illegal immigration from neighboring Comoros.
Local media images depicted a mother pushing her newborn baby’s crib along a flooded corridor in Mayotte’s hospital. Capsized police boats were seen onshore, while coconut trees had crashed through the roofs of many buildings.
“My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who have endured the most horrific hours and, for some, lost everything, including their lives,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
Over the past few decades, thousands have attempted the dangerous crossing from Comoros, off the coast of East Africa, to Mayotte, which offers a higher standard of living and access to France’s welfare system.
According to the French interior ministry, more than 100,000 undocumented migrants currently live in Mayotte.
Authorities noted that it is challenging to determine the exact death toll from the cyclone, which has also raised concerns about access to food, water, and sanitation.
“For the toll, it’s going to be difficult because Mayotte is a Muslim territory where the dead are buried within 24 hours,” a French interior ministry official explained earlier.
Located nearly 8,000 km (5,000 miles) from Paris, Mayotte is far poorer than mainland France and has long struggled with gang violence and social unrest.
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More than three-quarters of Mayotte’s population lives below the French poverty line, and tensions flared earlier this year due to a water shortage.
The French government announced the establishment of an air bridge from Reunion Island, another French overseas territory on the other side of Madagascar, to assist in the relief efforts.
The cyclone marks the first major challenge for Prime Minister François Bayrou, who was appointed by Macron just days before following the collapse of the previous government.
On Sunday, the cyclone moved on to hit northern Mozambique, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Internet monitor NetBlocks reported on X that heavy rain and winds had caused significant damage to power and telecommunications infrastructure.
In Comoros, authorities reported two people slightly injured, 24 displaced, and 21 homes destroyed.
France colonized Mayotte in 1843 and annexed the entire Comoros archipelago in 1904. In a 1974 referendum, 95% of voters favored separation, but 63% of Mayotte’s population voted to remain French. Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli declared independence in 1975, while Mayotte is still governed from Paris.
