Cyclone Chido devastates mayotte: Death toll fears escalate
Cyclone Chido devastated the French region of Mayotte, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The prefecture warns that the death toll could potentially reach several thousand.
Mayotte is a French overseas department and region in the Indian Ocean, located in the Mozambique Channel. It comprises two islands and about 30 smaller uninhabited islets.
Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte, caused extensive destruction. Perfect François-Xavier Bieuville believes the number of victims will "certainly be several hundreds, maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands." This is the most severe cyclone to affect the region in nearly a century.
The damage is extensive, with many homes in the slums destroyed. The Mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, emphasised that the cyclone spared nothing in its path, demolishing a hospital and a school. Most roads are impassable, and residents are left without electricity and water.
Mayotte, which is the poorest French department, faces challenges with immigration issues. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, over 100,000 illegal immigrants reside in Mayotte. Approximately 77 per cent of residents live below the poverty line. Many did not go to shelters for fear of deportation.
Estimating the number of casualties may be challenging due to traditional Muslim customs strongly rooted in Mayotte, which dictate that the deceased must be buried within 24 hours.
