Dec 19, 2024 Story by: Editor
The devastating Cyclone Chido, which struck France’s Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Saturday, is feared to have caused several hundred fatalities, a local official has cautioned.
The cyclone brought winds exceeding 225 km/h (140 mph), flattening entire communities. Although the latest official death toll stood at 11, Mayotte’s prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, told local media that the final number would “definitely be several hundred” once the full extent of the damage is assessed. He added it was possible that “a few thousand people had died.”
French President Emmanuel Macron assured Mayotte’s residents that France would “be there” to support them, announcing the deployment of 250 rescue workers. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated, “all makeshift homes have been completely destroyed,” expressing concerns over a potentially “heavy” death toll.
On Saturday, a local news outlet reported 11 fatalities and 246 injuries based on hospital figures. However, AFP cited a security source, reporting a higher death toll of at least 14.
Mayotte, located northwest of Madagascar, is an archipelago consisting of the main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller ones. The island is home to around 300,000 residents, most of whom live in precarious conditions with metal-roofed shacks. Tens of thousands have been left homeless in the aftermath of the storm.
Electricity, water, and internet services remain disrupted. In response, the French government dispatched a military transport plane carrying supplies and emergency personnel. Acting French Transport Minister François Durovray reported on X that Pamandzi airport had “suffered major damage, especially to the control tower,” and that air traffic would resume initially with military aid flights. Additionally, ships are en route to assist with resupply efforts.
Even before Cyclone Chido made landfall on Saturday morning, reports surfaced of uprooted trees, destroyed rooftops, and downed power lines. Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, head of Mayotte’s firefighters’ union, described the dire situation to the BFM news channel: “Even emergency responders are locked down. There’s no mobile phone service, and we can’t reach people on the island. Even buildings built to earthquake standards haven’t held up. The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is functioning at partial capacity.”
Interior Minister Retailleau echoed his support in a statement on X: “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. The state and local emergency services are fully mobilized. 110 civil security personnel and firefighters have already been sent and are on site. A second dispatch will be made tomorrow with 140 additional personnel.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who assumed office just a day before the cyclone hit, called the storm “exceptional in severity” and confirmed he was monitoring the situation “hour by hour.” Bayrou also held an emergency meeting with ministers in Paris.
Mayotte had been placed under the highest alert level, purple, which mandated a “strict lockdown for the whole population, including emergency services.” The alert was later downgraded to red to allow emergency responders to mobilize. Retailleau noted that the island had not faced such extreme weather conditions since 1934.
After leaving Mayotte, Cyclone Chido intensified as it moved across the Mozambique Channel. The coastal city of Pemba endured heavy rain and wind gusts reaching 185 km/h (115 mph). Social media footage revealed severe flooding, uprooted trees, and damaged homes in Pemba.
The cyclone is now progressing inland, bringing heavy rainfall to Mozambique’s Nampula province. While winds are expected to weaken, significant rainfall and flooding are forecast for southern Malawi and later Zimbabwe. Source: BBC News
