The death toll from the cyclone that struck the French Indian Ocean region of Mayotte on Saturday could reach hundreds, local officials warned.
Entire communities were devastated when Cyclone Chido made landfall, bringing winds gusting more than 225 kilometers per hour (140 mph).
The last reported death toll was 11, but speaking to local media, the island’s governor, François-Xavier Vieuxville, said once the damage was fully assessed, “it will definitely be in the hundreds” and “possibly thousands.” .
French President Emmanuel Macron previously said France would “be there” for Mayotte residents and would send 250 rescue workers.
AFP“All temporary housing has been completely destroyed,” French Interior Minister Bruno Ritero said, adding, “We are concerned that there will be many deaths.”
On Saturday Local news outlets reported. According to hospital reports, 11 people were killed and 246 were injured. Citing security sources, AFP reported that the death toll was at least 14.
Mayotte, located in the northwest of Madagascar, is an archipelago comprised of one main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller islands.
Most of the island’s 300,000 residents live in shacks with sheet metal roofs, and tens of thousands have lost their homes.
Electricity, water and internet connections were all cut off. The Parisian government sent a military transport plane loaded with supplies and emergency personnel.
Acting French Transport Minister Francois Durovray wrote to
“Air traffic will be restored on a priority basis using military support aircraft,” he said. Vessels are en route to ensure resupply,” he added.
Even before the cyclone struck at full force on Saturday morning, there were reports of trees being uprooted, roofs ripped off buildings and power lines downed.
“Even emergency response personnel are locked down,” Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, head of the Mayotte firefighters’ union, told BFM news channel on Saturday morning.
“There is no cell phone service, no contact with island residents,” he said. “The buildings built to earthquake standards cannot withstand them.”
“The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is partially functional.”
AFPIn a statement to X, Interior Minister Retailleau wrote: “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. State and local emergency services are fully mobilized. 110 civil security officers and firefighters have already been deployed and are on scene. A second deployment of 140 more will be made tomorrow. no see.”
French Prime Minister François Bayroux, who took office on Friday, said the cyclone was “exceptionally serious” and that he was being updated on the situation “on an hourly basis.” He held an emergency meeting with ministers in Paris.
Mayotte was initially placed on purple alert, the highest level, and a “strict lockdown of the entire population, including emergency services” was imposed. It was then lowered to red to allow emergency services to leave the base.
Retailleau said the island hasn’t experienced weather this severe since 1934.
After hitting Mayotte, the storm intensified overnight as it crossed the Mozambique Channel.
The coastal city of Pemba was hit by winds gusting up to 185 km/h (115 mph) and heavy rain.
Videos posted on social media showed parts of the city of Pemba flooded, trees uprooted and some houses damaged.
The cyclone is currently moving inland and heavy rain has been reported in the nearby Nampula province.
Winds are expected to weaken, but heavy rain and flooding are also expected in southern Malawi and later Zimbabwe.
Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe
