Devastating Cyclone Chido Slams Mayotte, Leaving Trail of Destruction
The French island territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean is reeling from the impact of Cyclone Chido, a catastrophic storm that has left a path of destruction in its wake. The cyclone, described as the moast violent and destructive to hit the region as 1934, brought wind gusts exceeding 140 mph (225 km/h), causing widespread devastation.
At least two deaths have been reported, with fears that the final toll will be substantially higher. The scale of the damage is immense, with Mayotte’s prefect, françois-Xavier Bieuville, stating in a press release that the situation is “catastrophic.” The impact is comparable to the devastation seen in the aftermath of powerful hurricanes in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for international aid.
“All makeshift homes have been completely destroyed,” said French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, expressing concerns about a “heavy” death toll. The sheer force of the winds uprooted trees, ripped roofs from buildings, and brought down power lines even before the cyclone’s full fury struck on Saturday morning.
The challenges faced by emergency responders are immense. Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, head of mayotte’s firefighters’ union, described the situation to BFM news, stating, “even emergency responders are locked down.” He continued, “Ther’s no mobile phone service and we can’t reach people on the island. Even buildings built to earthquake standards haven’t held up. The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is functioning at partial capacity.”
Infrastructure damage is extensive. The island’s Pamandzi airport, according to acting French Transport Minister Francois durovray’s post on X (formerly Twitter), “suffered major damage, especially to the control tower.” He added that air traffic “will be restored initially with military aid planes. Ships are on the way to ensure resupply.”
The French government is responding to the crisis. President emmanuel Macron pledged France’s support,assuring the people of Mayotte that France would “be there.” Over 250 firefighters and security personnel are being deployed, with some already on the ground. Interior Minister Retailleau detailed the response on X, stating, “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. The state and local emergency services are fully mobilized. 110 civil security personnel and firefighters have already been sent and are on site. A second dispatch will be made tomorrow with 140 additional personnel.”
Prime Minister François Bayrou emphasized the severity of the situation, describing the cyclone as of ”extraordinary severity” and noting he was receiving hourly updates. Mayotte was initially under the highest alert level, a purple alert, resulting in a “strict lockdown for the whole population, including emergency services.” The alert level has since been lowered to red to allow emergency services more operational flexibility.
The long-term recovery will be a significant undertaking. Retailleau highlighted the unprecedented nature of the event, noting that Mayotte hadn’t experienced such severe weather since 1934. The storm’s impact extends beyond Mayotte; Cyclone Chido is also expected to affect Mozambique on the African mainland.
