PARIS: At least 11 fatalities were reported in Mayotte after Cyclone Chido tore through the French archipelago on Saturday, devastating neighborhoods and causing massive disruption, France’s interior ministry confirmed Sunday.
Videos shared by French media reveal widespread damage, with uprooted trees and flattened homes leaving some areas in complete ruin. The situation remains dire as Mayotte authorities warn that the death toll might rise. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized the challenge of accounting for all victims in such widespread destruction.
Chido, which made landfall in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on Sunday, registered sustained winds of 115 mph, classifying it as equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.
Mayotte’s capital mayor, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, reported that over 240 injuries had been sustained, with key infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and homes severely damaged. Relief efforts have been hindered due to telecommunication outages, as internet monitoring group NetBlocks indicated the region has been largely offline for over 36 hours.
Météo-France forecasts Cyclone Chido will weaken as it tracks inland, but Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces are bracing for strong winds, torrential rains, and hazardous sea conditions.
French and EU authorities have pledged aid for Mayotte. French President Emmanuel Macron assured on social media that relief support is underway, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed readiness to assist.
Mayotte remains in recovery mode, with residents struggling to cope with catastrophic losses while skies begin to clear. Despite Chido’s weakening, its impacts are expected to linger in the affected areas for days.
