France is deploying emergency aid and hundreds of rescue workers to its overseas department of Mayotte, struck by Cyclone Chido on Saturday. Initial responders have arrived from Réunion, and further support is being arranged from mainland France.
Aircraft from Réunion have delivered supplies and personnel, with military flights being the only option due to damage to Mayotte’s airport control tower. Ships carrying aid are also en route.
France has dispatched 162 rescue workers to assist 110 colleagues already on-site. A navy vessel and a supply ship with a helicopter are also being sent.
1,600 police officers have been deployed to prevent looting. The damage is extensive, with shanty homes destroyed and roofs torn off more solid structures.
Public buildings, including a hospital and water treatment facility, were also damaged, and there is widespread power outage. The official death toll stands at 14, but local officials fear it may rise significantly.
Inhabitants of Mayotte, predominantly Muslim, traditionally bury their dead within 24 hours, complicating official death counts. The cyclone further exacerbates Mayotte’s dire situation, where poverty and inadequate infrastructure are prevalent.
Interior Minister Retailleau is visiting Mayotte to assess the relief efforts.
Source: NOS