Cyclone ‘Chido’ has wreaked havoc in the Mayotte region of France. The death toll is expected to reach around 1,000, a top government official said on Sunday. “I think hundreds of people have been killed by this storm, maybe the number could reach around a thousand,” said Mayotte Prefect Francois-Xavier Beauville. It is “extremely difficult” to give an exact figure after the widespread destruction caused by the tropical cyclone that hit the Indian Ocean islands on Saturday. Officials earlier on Sunday confirmed at least 11 deaths in Mayotte but later said the number was expected to rise. Mayotte, located in the southeastern Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, is France’s poorest island region and the poorest in the European Union.

Winds of more than 220 kilometers per hour:
The French meteorological service said the storm had caused winds of more than 220 kilometers per hour, damaging several houses in Mayotte. Spread across two main islands, about 800 kilometers off the east coast of Africa Mayotte has a population of over 300,000. In some places, entire areas were destroyed. Local residents reported that many trees were uprooted and boats capsized or sank.

Les bidonvilles de #Mayotte ont été rasés, leurs habitants engloutis par la boue et les tôles. Les 3/4 des maisons en dur n'ont #PlusDeToit. Pas d'#eau, pas de #nourriture, pas d'#électricité et des #pillages. Nos besoins: #ÉtatDUrgence + #Armée + #Médecins + #Aide massive pic.twitter.com/vDtHWgSvCG

— Estelle Youssouffa Députée (@DeputeeEstelle) December 15, 2024