Cyclone Chido Leaves French Island ‘Mayotte’ Devastated, With Hundreds Feared Dead.
The French island of Mayotte, located in the Indian Ocean, has been ravaged by Cyclone Chido, with wind speeds reaching a catastrophic 140mph (225km/h). Early reports suggest that the death toll could reach “close to a thousand or even several thousand,” according to the island’s prefect.
The cyclone has left widespread destruction, with residents describing scenes of entire neighbourhoods wiped out. Mohamed Ishmael, a resident of the capital city, Mamoudzou, said: “You feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighbourhood disappear.”
Mayotte, one of the poorest regions in France, faces a worsening humanitarian crisis. Many of its 320,000 residents live in shanty towns, and severe shortages of food, water, and shelter are compounding the disaster. One resident waiting for emergency supplies in Mamoudzou said: “We’ve had no water for three days now, so it’s starting to be a lot. We’re trying to get the bare minimum to live on because we don’t know when the water will come back.”
France has responded to the crisis by sending Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to the island, accompanied by 160 firefighters and soldiers to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
Cyclone Chido has highlighted the destructive power of tropical cyclones, which are known for their devastating winds, storm surges, and heavy rains that often lead to flooding and landslides. The phenomenon, known as hurricanes in the Caribbean and North America and typhoons in East Asia, is called cyclones when they form in the Indian Ocean or the southern Pacific.
As the island grapples with the aftermath, residents and emergency responders face the daunting task of rebuilding lives and infrastructure amid one of the most catastrophic natural disasters Mayotte has ever experienced.
