At least 11 people perished and widespread destruction occurred in Mayotte, a primarily impoverished French island territory in the Indian Ocean, after Cyclone Chido passed through before making landfall in Mozambique on Sunday.
The powerful tropical cyclone could affect 2.5 million individuals in northern Mozambique, with aid organizations warning of potential increases in casualties and significant damage.
The French Interior Ministry reported difficulties in obtaining precise casualty figures for Mayotte, but confirmed at least 11 fatalities. A hospital reported nine individuals in critical condition and 246 injured, according to the ministry.
Chido swept across the southeastern Indian Ocean on Friday and Saturday, impacting the nearby Comoros and Madagascar islands. Comoros authorities reported 11 missing fishermen who had been at sea earlier in the week.
Mayotte, directly in the cyclone’s path, experienced substantial damage on Saturday, officials stated. The local prefect described it as Mayotte’s most severe cyclone in 90 years.
Following an emergency meeting in Paris on Saturday night, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed concerns about a potentially high death toll in Mayotte and described the island as devastated. Prime Minister François Bayrou, who assumed office on Friday, reported severe damage or destruction to public infrastructure, including the main hospital and airport.
According to the French weather service, Chido generated winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), classifying it as a category 4 cyclone, the second strongest on the scale.
France seeks to establish an air and sea bridge to Mayotte
Mayotte’s population of over 300,000 is spread across two main islands off Africa’s east coast. It is France’s poorest island and the European Union’s poorest territory. In certain areas, entire neighborhoods of makeshift housing were destroyed, while residents reported widespread uprooted trees, damaged or sunken boats, and power outages.
Chad Youyou, a resident of Hamjago in the island’s north, shared videos on Facebook showcasing the extensive damage in his village and surrounding areas, where nearly every tree was felled.
“Mayotte is destroyed … we are destroyed,” he stated.
Rescuers and firefighters were dispatched from France and the nearby French territory of Reunion, with supplies transported via military aircraft and ships. Airport control tower damage restricted flights to military aircraft.
Patrice Latron, the prefect of Reunion, announced plans to establish an air and sea bridge from Reunion to Mayotte. Around 800 additional rescuers were scheduled to arrive in the following days, along with over 80 tons of supplies delivered by air or sea. Latron identified restoring electricity and access to potable water as immediate priorities.
The French Interior Ministry reported the deployment of 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers to assist the population and prevent potential looting.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated he was closely monitoring the situation, while Pope Francis offered prayers for the cyclone’s victims during a Sunday visit to Corsica.
The cyclone impacts northern Mozambique
Chido continued its eastward path into northern Mozambique, while landlocked Malawi and Zimbabwe issued potential evacuation warnings due to flooding.
In Mozambique, UNICEF reported that Cabo Delgado province, home to approximately 2 million people, was the first region affected, with many homes, schools, and health facilities suffering partial or complete destruction.
UNICEF Mozambique spokesman Guy Taylor noted that communities faced potential weeks-long disruption to schools and health facilities, and Mozambican authorities warned of a significant landslide risk.
December to March marks cyclone season in the southeastern Indian Ocean, and southern Africa has experienced a series of powerful cyclones in recent years. Cyclone Idai in 2019 resulted in over 1,300 deaths across Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Cyclone Freddy caused over 1,000 deaths across multiple countries last year.
These cyclones pose risks of flooding and landslides, with stagnant water potentially triggering outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera, as well as dengue fever and malaria.
Studies attribute the intensification of these cyclones to climate change, leaving impoverished southern African nations—which contribute minimally to global warming—to confront significant humanitarian crises, highlighting their plea for increased assistance from wealthier nations in addressing climate change impacts.
