Sharjah 24 – AFP: At least 14 people have been killed in Mayotte after a powerful cyclone struck the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities confirmed on Sunday. Officials warned that it may take several days to determine the full extent of the damage.
Rescue teams and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but efforts are hindered by damage to airports and power infrastructure in a region already grappling with chronic water shortages.
The provisional toll of 14 deaths was reported by authorities, according to a security source. Nine people remain critically injured and fighting for their lives, while 246 others are seriously wounded, said Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, mayor of Mamoudzou, Mayotte's capital. He described widespread devastation, with hospitals, schools, and homes completely destroyed by the cyclone.
Mayotte’s 320,000 residents were placed under lockdown as Cyclone Chido approached, bringing wind speeds of over 226 kilometers per hour. The cyclone wreaked havoc, especially in shantytowns, where homes made of sheet metal and improvised structures were torn apart. "It will take several days" to assess the full death toll, warned Acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, adding that the traditional Muslim practice of burying the dead within a day could complicate the process.
Communication with the island is slow, as most of the population remains cut off from water and electricity. One local resident, Ibrahim, described "apocalyptic scenes" as he navigated through blocked roads, noting that even large companies were severely damaged.
Retailleau is set to travel to Mayotte on Monday with 160 soldiers and firefighters to assist the 110 already deployed. Medical aid is being delivered by air and sea from nearby La Reunion, another French territory.
The cyclone also impacted nearby islands, including the Comoros, which suffered minor damage. Cyclone Chido then moved on to Mozambique, making landfall near the city of Pemba, where it brought strong winds and heavy rain. UNICEF is on the ground in Mozambique, helping with the destruction of homes, schools, and health facilities.
Experts have linked Cyclone Chido to climate change, as unusually warm waters in the Indian Ocean intensified the storm. The cyclone’s strength is comparable to previous storms, such as Cyclones Gombe and Freddy, which caused significant casualties in recent years. The UN has warned that nearly 1.7 million people are at risk, with the cyclone's remnants expected to bring further heavy rain and potential floods to the region.
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