The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has been left reeling after Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm in nearly a century, struck the archipelago. A senior French official, Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, expressed fears that the death toll could reach hundreds or even thousands. “It’s likely there are several hundred fatalities, possibly exceeding a thousand,” he stated on Mayotte La 1ère.
The French Interior Ministry admitted that it would be challenging to determine an exact figure due to the scale of destruction.
Cyclone Chido made landfall with winds exceeding 200 kph (124 mph), devastating homes, government buildings, and a hospital, according to Météo-France. Aerial footage revealed the widespread destruction, including makeshift houses reduced to rubble and capsized boats. Local media reported flooded hospital corridors and buildings damaged by fallen coconut trees.
In Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, resident Mohamed Ishmael described the scene as apocalyptic: “You feel like you’re in the aftermath of a nuclear war… An entire neighborhood has vanished.”
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity, saying, “My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who endured horrific hours and, for some, have lost everything, even their lives.”
Mayotte, a French territory located nearly 8,000 km from Paris, faces persistent socio-economic challenges, with over 75% of its population living below the French poverty line. The island is also home to over 100,000 undocumented migrants, primarily from nearby Comoros, drawn by its higher living standards and French welfare system.
The cyclone has worsened concerns over access to food, water, and sanitation. Burial customs on the predominantly Muslim island, where the deceased are interred within 24 hours, add further complications to ascertaining the death toll.
An air bridge is being established from Reunion Island to aid recovery efforts, as the storm also impacted northern Mozambique and Comoros, though with less severe consequences.
