Rescue Efforts Intensify as Cyclone Chido Devastates Mayotte, Hundreds Feared Dead
Rescuers scrambled to reach survivors after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc on Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, on Saturday. The powerful storm left widespread destruction, particularly in the territory’s many shantytowns, with hundreds feared dead. Cyclone Chido, with winds reaching speeds of 226 km/h (140 mph), caused severe damage to infrastructure, including Mayotte’s airport, and knocked out essential services like electricity, water, and communications.
Local authorities, including Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, warned that the final death toll could climb to “close to a thousand or even several thousand” people. Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou, was severely affected, with Mayor Ambdilwahedou Soumaila describing the storm as devastating. “The hospital is hit, the schools are hit. Houses are devastated,” he said. The cyclone also destroyed numerous homes, particularly in the informal settlements where a third of the 320,000 residents live. One resident, Ibrahim, recounted “apocalyptic scenes” as he navigated the island, clearing blocked roads himself.
A first aid flight arrived from La Réunion on Sunday, bringing three tonnes of medical supplies, blood for transfusions, and a team of 17 medical staff. The French government, led by President Emmanuel Macron, is organizing a crisis meeting to address the situation, while France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is scheduled to visit Mayotte, accompanied by 160 soldiers and firefighters to bolster the rescue efforts. Military aircraft and a navy patrol ship are also being deployed.
International support is pouring in, with pledges from the European Union and the World Health Organization. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have both expressed readiness to assist with relief efforts. The situation is complicated by the presence of around 100,000 undocumented migrants in Mayotte, making it difficult to determine the full scale of the disaster. Some residents are reportedly hesitant to seek aid due to fears of being forcibly removed from the territory.
Cyclone Chido is part of a growing trend of extreme weather events linked to climate change. Meteorologists pointed to the unusually warm waters in the Indian Ocean as a factor that intensified the storm. After hitting Mayotte, Chido moved on to Mozambique, where it caused damage and claimed three lives. The storm’s remnants are expected to continue affecting neighboring countries, with the UN warning that 1.7 million people remain at risk of further flooding and rainfall in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
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