Hundreds are feared dead in Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean territory, after Cyclone Chido unleashed destruction with wind speeds exceeding 225 km/h (140 mph). The powerful storm flattened entire settlements, leaving many, especially those in makeshift shelters, in dire conditions.
Rescue teams, bolstered by French reinforcements, are working tirelessly to search for survivors amid widespread devastation. Efforts have been slowed by damaged infrastructure, including downed power lines and blocked roads.
Mayotte’s 320,000 residents face severe shortages of food, water, and shelter. The island’s impoverished communities, including undocumented migrants seeking asylum, are particularly vulnerable due to their precarious living conditions. Mayotte, which relies heavily on French financial aid, grapples with systemic poverty, unemployment, and political instability. About 75% of the population lives below the national poverty line, with unemployment affecting one in three people.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with the people of Mayotte, acknowledging their immense loss and suffering. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who plans to visit the island, described the cyclone’s impact as “exceptionally severe” and pledged increased aid efforts.
Cyclone Chido also wreaked havoc in Mozambique, causing flash floods, uprooting trees, and damaging buildings near Pemba. The northern provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado reported structural damage and power outages on Saturday morning.
As both Mayotte and Mozambique begin to assess the cyclone’s toll, international aid and rescue operations are expected to intensify in the coming days.