A cyclone has caused significant damage and fatalities in the Comoros archipelago, particularly affecting Mayotte, a French overseas department. According to the mayor of the capital Mamoudzou, at least eleven people have died, while AFP reports at least fourteen fatalities based on a security source.
The death toll is expected to rise as the full extent of the damage and casualties is still unknown. Local media report the destruction of many slums, with numerous people trapped under debris and approximately 250 injured.
French Interior Minister Retailleau expressed concern over the high death toll, stating, “The island seems to be devastated.” Local authorities describe it as the worst cyclone since 1934 for the island, which has a population of around 310,000. The newly appointed French Prime Minister Bayrou mentioned that many public facilities, including a hospital and Pamandzi airport, have been heavily damaged.
Despite this, the airport remains operational, although its navigation equipment and control tower were damaged by strong winds. The French Interior Ministry has deployed 1,600 police officers to Mayotte to aid the population and prevent looting, alongside 250 rescue workers from France and nearby Réunion.
A red alert remains in effect on Mayotte, with winds reaching up to 200 kilometers per hour. Cyclone Chido is set to continue its path towards Mozambique, southern Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
Although Mayotte is part of the Comoros archipelago, it is not part of the Union of the Comoros, which has also been impacted by Chido. Authorities there are concerned about a group of eleven fishermen missing at sea.
Source: NOS