Cyclone Chido leaves Mayotte in ruins as death toll climbs
Ursula von der Leyen expressed the European Union's support for France following Cyclone Chido, which devastated Mayotte, a French overseas territory. The death toll there could potentially reach thousands.
"Our hearts go out to France after the destructive Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte. Europe stands in solidarity with the people of Mayotte during this challenging time. We are prepared to assist them in the coming days," wrote von der Leyen on the platform X.
Mayotte's Prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, highlighted that Cyclone Chido is the most powerful storm to affect the region in nearly a century. According to him, the number of victims will "certainly reach several hundred, perhaps close to a thousand, or even several thousand". The French Ministry of the Interior noted that at this stage, it is unable to determine the number of casualties accurately, though rescue services have confirmed at least 14 deaths.
They did not report to shelters for fear of deportation
It is unclear how many victims remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings or in slum shanties, which were completely devastated by wind gusts exceeding 200 km/h.
According to data from the French Ministry of the Interior, over 100,000 illegal immigrants live in Mayotte. Many of them did not report to shelters for fear of deportation.
The mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, reported that the cyclone destroyed numerous buildings, including the main hospital and a school. "Houses are completely destroyed," he said. The cyclone uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and knocked down power poles, rendering most roads impassable.
Mayotte is a French department and overseas region located in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean.
