Cyclone Chido Hits Mayotte, Leaving At Least 11 Dead and Widespread Destruction

CGC News Reporter December 16, 2024

Cyclone Chido has wreaked havoc in the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, causing at least 11 deaths and significant damage, according to France’s Interior Ministry. The ministry reported that the situation remains dire, with fears that the death toll may rise as the full extent of the destruction is assessed.

A hospital in Mayotte has confirmed that nine people are in critical condition, while 246 others have been injured. The cyclone, which made landfall on Saturday, brought wind speeds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), ripping roofs off buildings, flattening neighborhoods, and uprooting trees. Many boats were flipped or sunk, and the main airport in Mayotte also sustained severe damage.

Mayotte, home to a population of over 300,000, is no stranger to natural disasters but has not experienced a cyclone of this magnitude in nearly 90 years. The storm also affected the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar, leaving extensive damage in its wake.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed concerns that the death toll in Mayotte could continue to rise, following an emergency meeting in Paris on Saturday night.

The storm has now made landfall in Mozambique, where emergency officials have warned that up to 2.5 million people could be impacted in two Northern Provinces. The effects of Cyclone Chido are also being felt in neighboring landlocked countries Malawi and Zimbabwe, which have begun preparations for potential flooding and evacuations.

The devastation caused by Cyclone Chido echoes the impact of previous strong cyclones in the region, such as Cyclone Idai in 2019, which claimed more than 1,500 lives across Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.