French island territory hit by Cyclone Chido

The French Indian Ocean region of Mayotte has been hit by the worst hurricane to hit the islands in almost a century.

While it was reported that at least 11 people died as a result of Hurricane Chido hitting land on Saturday, causing winds exceeding 225 km (140 miles) per hour, there were concerns that the death toll could increase.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the people of Mayotte, France, “will be there”, while French officials said 250 firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, some of whom had already arrived.

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau said “all makeshift homes were completely destroyed” and he feared a “heavy” death toll.

One Local news source reported According to the hospital report, 11 people died and more than 200 were injured.

AFP, citing a security source, reported that the death toll was higher (at least 14).

Located in the northwest of Madagascar, Mayotte is an archipelago consisting of a main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller islands.

Most of the island’s 300,000 or so residents live in metal-roofed shacks, and tens of thousands of people have lost their homes.

Electricity, water and internet connections are completely cut off. The Paris government sent a military transport plane with supplies and emergency workers.

French Deputy Minister of Transport, Francois Durovray, wrote to X that the region’s Pamandzi airport “especially the control tower was severely damaged.”

Air traffic “will be restored initially by military aid aircraft. Ships are on the way to provide supplies,” he added.

Even before the tornado hit with full force Saturday morning, there were reports of trees being uprooted, roofs ripped off buildings and power lines downed.

Mayotte firefighters’ union president Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui told news channel BFM on Saturday morning that “even emergency responders are locked out.”

He continued: “There is no mobile phone service and we cannot reach people on the island. Even buildings built to earthquake standards could not withstand.

“The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is operating at partial capacity.”

Interior Minister Retailleau wrote in a statement about .”

French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who took office on Friday, said that the hurricane was of “extraordinary intensity” and that he was informed about the situation “hour by hour”. He held an emergency meeting with ministers in Paris.

Mayotte was initially placed under purple alert, the highest level, and a “strict lockdown for the entire population, including emergency services” was imposed. It has since been downgraded to red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.

Retailleau said the island hasn’t experienced such severe weather since 1934.

On Sunday, Cyclone Chido reached northern Mozambique. Winds are forecast to exceed 230 km/h (140 mph) before approaching land.

As the winds were expected to ease, heavy rain and flooding were expected in parts of northern Mozambique, southern Malawi and later Zimbabwe.