Up to 1,000 people are feared dead in the French overseas territory of Mayotte after the devastating Cyclone Chido tore through the region, causing widespread destruction.
The island’s top official, Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, reported catastrophic damage and described the event as the worst cyclone in 90 years.
Speaking to local media, Bieuville warned, “I think there are several hundred dead; maybe we’ll get close to a thousand, even thousands… given the violence of this event.”
He added that getting an accurate death toll was currently “extremely difficult” due to communication lines being knocked out by the storm.
At least 11 fatalities have been confirmed so far, with nine critically injured and 246 more reported injured.
Authorities fear the death toll will rise significantly in the coming days as recovery efforts continue.
Cyclone Chido, with winds exceeding 136 mph, has also impacted nearby islands, including Comoros and Madagascar.
However, Mayotte, located in the southeastern Indian Ocean, was directly on the cyclone’s path and experienced the worst devastation.
The cyclone’s powerful winds ripped off metal roofs, flattened entire neighbourhoods, uprooted trees, and capsized boats. With just over 300,000 people, Mayotte faces a humanitarian crisis as emergency services struggle to respond.
In response to the disaster, 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers have been deployed to help residents and prevent potential looting.
Newly appointed French Prime Minister François Bayrou confirmed that public infrastructure, including the island’s main hospital and airport, suffered severe damage or was destroyed.
The situation remains dire, with many residents left homeless and essential services disrupted.
Mayotte’s recovery is expected to be long and challenging as authorities work to assess the full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Chido.
