Death Toll from Cyclone Chido’s Destruction in Mayotte Expected to Surge
Mayotte, The Gulf Observer: The death toll from Cyclone Chido’s devastating path through the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte is expected to rise significantly, with local authorities predicting it could reach “several hundred, perhaps even a few thousand.”
In an interview on Sunday, Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville stated, “I think there will be definitely several hundred, perhaps we will come close to a thousand or even several thousand,” as the disaster wreaked havoc across the island, particularly in the shantytowns where roughly one-third of Mayotte’s population resides.
The cyclone, with winds reaching speeds of at least 226 kilometers per hour, destroyed much of the infrastructure on the island, including cutting off electricity, water, and communications. While officials confirmed 14 deaths in an initial report, they warned that it would take days to assess the full extent of the destruction.
The capital, Mamoudzou, has been severely affected, with hospitals reporting nine people in critical condition and 246 others seriously injured. Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, Mayor of Mamoudzou, confirmed that medical supplies and rescue teams were being rushed to the island, but efforts were hampered by significant damage to local airports and power lines.
In response to the disaster, French authorities have dispatched 160 soldiers and firefighters to reinforce the 110 personnel already deployed in Mayotte. Acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, following a crisis meeting in Paris, emphasized the widespread destruction caused by the cyclone, including the collapse of power poles, uprooted trees, and demolished shacks. He stated, “It will take several days to establish the full death toll, but we fear that it is heavy.”
More than 15,000 homes have been left without electricity, and communication lines, including emergency services, are limited. Acting Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher noted the severe damage to the island’s infrastructure, including the destruction of the Pamandzi airport. Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq reported that the Mayotte hospital center had suffered “major material damage,” severely affecting the region’s healthcare system.
Mounira, a resident of the Kaweni district in Mamoudzou, described the devastation: “Everything has been swept away, everything is razed.”
Cyclone Chido also impacted the nearby Comoros Islands, flooding mosques, damaging homes, and sweeping away boats, particularly on the islands of Anjouan and Moheli. The storm’s fury continued as it hit Mozambique early Sunday, causing gale-force winds and heavy rainfall near the city of Pemba, which was left without communication by 7:00 AM local time.
UNICEF has mobilized to provide aid to those affected by the storm, working closely with local authorities to ensure the continuity of essential services. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the storm could affect up to 1.7 million people across the region, with Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia also at risk of heavy rainfall and flash floods in the coming days.
Experts have warned that Cyclone Chido is another example of how climate change is fueling increasingly powerful storms. Meteorologist François Gourand from Météo France explained that the cyclone’s intensity was enhanced by exceptionally warm waters in the Indian Ocean.
Cyclone Chido has been compared to previous storms, such as Cyclone Gombe in 2022 and Cyclone Freddy in 2023, both of which caused significant loss of life and damage in Mozambique. The storm’s remnants are expected to bring significant rainfall to other parts of southern Africa, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
As Mayotte and neighboring regions continue to deal with the aftermath, authorities and aid organizations are focusing on rescue efforts and providing essential support to those affected by this catastrophic event.
