Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to strike Mayotte in nearly a century, has left catastrophic destruction in its wake, with thousands feared dead on the French Indian Ocean island. The storm tore through the capital, Mamoudzou, on Saturday, wreaking havoc on hospitals, schools, homes, and infrastructure.
The cyclone brought winds of up to 137 mph, leaving roads impassable and rendering the island’s airport control tower inoperable. François-Xavier Bieuville, Mayotte’s prefect and representative of the French interior ministry, described the aftermath as “apocalyptic.” Speaking to reporters, he said, “I think there are several hundred dead, maybe we’ll get close to a thousand … even thousands.”
With nearly one-third of Mayotte’s 320,000 residents living in makeshift shacks with corrugated metal roofs, the storm’s destruction was inevitable. Many residents, such as those in Mamoudzou, sought refuge too late as roofs and walls collapsed around them.
Ousseni Balahachi, a local representative of the French Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail union, recounted the chaos: “Those people stayed [in their homes] until the last minute. When they saw the intensity [of the cyclone] they started to panic and tried to find refuge. But it was already too late.”
The full death toll remains uncertain as residents are burying the dead within 24 hours, adhering to Muslim customs.
France has initiated an emergency response, with an aircraft from La Réunion delivering three tonnes of medical supplies and a 17-member medical team to Mayotte. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is set to visit the island today to coordinate rescue efforts.
Neighboring regions have also felt the cyclone’s wrath. In Mozambique, at least three people were killed as Cyclone Chido swept across Cabo Delgado province, destroying homes, schools, and health facilities. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned of extensive damage in the area, home to two million people.
Cyclone Chido is continuing its path toward Malawi and Zimbabwe, prompting warnings of potential flooding and evacuation orders.
