Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in 90 years, has left devastation in its wake, with fears that the death toll could climb to “several hundred,” according to local authorities.
Speaking to Mayotte La 1ere, Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville warned the final toll might be in the thousands, though an exact number remains uncertain. The French Interior Ministry acknowledged the challenge of accounting for all victims at this stage, with at least 11 fatalities confirmed so far.
Widespread Destruction
The cyclone battered Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, with winds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph), causing widespread damage to homes, government buildings, and even a hospital. Makeshift housing suffered heavily, further compounding the crisis.
Meteo France described Cyclone Chido as “unexpectedly violent,” and French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the scale of the destruction during an emergency meeting on Saturday.
Critical Challenges
In addition to the loss of life, Cyclone Chido has disrupted access to essential resources such as food, water, and sanitation. The situation is exacerbated by Mayotte’s pre-existing vulnerabilities, including poverty, social unrest, and a water crisis earlier this year.
The rapid burial traditions in Mayotte, where most of the population is Muslim, have complicated efforts to establish an accurate death toll. “It’s going to be complicated because the dead are buried within 24 hours,” an Interior Ministry official stated.
Government Response
Acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the destruction as “dramatic” and warned that the toll would take days to finalize. He plans to visit Mayotte on Monday to oversee relief efforts. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, a junior minister originally from Mayotte, revealed that he has been unable to contact family and friends on the island since the cyclone struck.
Impact Beyond Mayotte
Chido’s destruction is not confined to Mayotte. The storm is expected to make landfall in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado or Nampula provinces, raising further alarm. Neighboring Comoros has also reported flooding and extensive damage to homes.
Elsewhere, Pamandzi Airport on Petite-Terre in Mayotte suffered severe damage, according to Acting Transport Minister Francois Durovray.
A Climate Crisis Connection
Experts have linked Cyclone Chido to climate change, citing unusually warm waters in the Indian Ocean as a contributing factor. Meteo France meteorologist Francois Gourand characterized the storm as “exceptional,” comparing its intensity to recent cyclones like Gombe in 2022 and Freddy in 2023, which caused dozens of deaths in Mozambique.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that Chido poses a threat to 1.7 million people in the region. It forecasts heavy rains and potential flash floods in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia in the coming days.
As relief efforts begin, Mayotte faces a daunting path to recovery from one of the most catastrophic storms in its history.