Mayotte Faces Humanitarian Emergency Following Devastating Cyclone

As emergency teams scramble to respond to the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Chido, initial reports indicate at least 14 deaths and more than 250 injuries, with fears of an impending humanitarian crisis in Mayotte.

Emergency responders raced against time on Monday to locate survivors amid the debris left in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Chido, which struck the French territory of Mayotte over the weekend. Preliminary reports reveal that at least 14 individuals lost their lives and upwards of 250 sustained injuries as the storm ravaged homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses, transforming the archipelago into a scene described by local media as “unrecognizable.”

Authorities fear that the actual death toll might be significantly higher. François-Xavier Bieuville, France’s top representative on the islands, mentioned to a local news outlet that he anticipates “several hundred” fatalities, with the possibility of the number reaching into the thousands.

In a statement delivered from Mayotte’s main island, France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized the complexities of determining an exact death count, noting that it could take days to get a clearer picture. In response to the disaster, President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation on Monday evening.

Chido’s impact marks it as the most severe storm to hit Mayotte in nearly nine decades, with authorities reporting wind gusts surpassing 124 miles per hour. Additionally, the cyclone has also led to casualties, with local officials noting at least three killed in Mozambique in initial estimates following the storm.