KEY POINTS
- Cyclone Chido devastates Mayotte, leaving hundreds feared dead.
- French President Macron pledges support for survivors and rescue efforts.
- Residents face severe damage, displacement, and critical resource shortages.
A powerful cyclone named Chido has left a trail of destruction in Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean archipelago, with fears that hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people may have died. Local officials have described the devastation as the worst storm to hit the island in nearly a century.
According to Francois-Xavier Bieuville, Mayotte’s prefect, “I think there will certainly be several hundreds, maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands.”
His remarks, made on local television channel Mayotte La 1ere, reflect the grim reality on the ground as rescue teams struggle to account for missing residents.
The French interior ministry acknowledged that it would be difficult to provide an exact death toll due to the immediate burial customs in the predominantly Muslim region.
Cyclone Chido brought winds of over 200 km/h (124 mph), battering homes, hospitals, and government buildings. Videos and images captured by locals show entire neighborhoods flattened, uprooted coconut trees, and capsized police boats along the shorelines. Residents likened the aftermath to “the aftermath of a nuclear war.”
French government pledges support as Macron calls it a “horrific ordeal”
French President Emmanuel Macron described the cyclone’s impact as a “horrific ordeal” for the residents of Mayotte. “My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who have gone through the most horrific few hours, and who have, for some, lost everything, lost their lives,” he said.
The French government has initiated an air bridge from Reunion Island to Mayotte to provide emergency relief, including food, water, and medical aid. Reunion, another French overseas territory, is also bracing for the potential impact of Cyclone Chido as it moves across the region.
According to Reuters, the French government is coordinating with local authorities to ensure that displaced families have access to temporary shelters.
Over 100,000 undocumented migrants living in Mayotte, according to the French interior ministry, add to the complexities of managing post-cyclone relief.
Meanwhile, local media reported distressing scenes at Mayotte’s main hospital, where floodwaters swept through corridors as mothers moved cribs containing newborns to higher ground. Moreover, community leaders have called for immediate intervention, citing concerns over health, sanitation, and the supply of essential resources like food and water.
Cyclone Chido’s destruction raises concerns about aid and disaster response
Mayotte’s poverty and underdevelopment have exacerbated the cyclone’s impact. With more than 75 percent of its residents living below France’s poverty line, the island’s ability to recover from the cyclone faces significant challenges.
Reports indicate that Chido’s impact extended beyond Mayotte, hitting parts of Comoros and northern Mozambique. While Comoros reported minimal injuries and only 21 homes destroyed, Mozambique faces an uncertain future as heavy rains and winds damaged power and telecommunications infrastructure.
Concerns have been raised about the long-term response and preparedness measures in Mayotte. The island has grappled with previous social unrest, water shortages, and limited health infrastructure, factors that may slow down recovery.
The cyclone has exposed the vulnerabilities of the island’s emergency response system and its reliance on support from mainland France.
