Cyclone Chido batters France's Mayotte; casualties could number in thousands

A powerful cyclone struck the French Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, potentially causing a massive loss of life. On Monday morning, authorities reported that the official death toll stood at 14, but according to a senior local French official, the final death toll could be in the hundreds or even thousands.
Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville told broadcaster Mayotte la Première, “I think there will definitely be several hundred, perhaps we will come close to a thousand or even several thousand” deaths. He added that confirming the final toll will be challenging due to Muslim burial customs and the presence of undocumented residents.
Determining accurate figures is further complicated by an estimated 100,000 undocumented residents, according to France's Interior Ministry. Bieuville noted the difficulty in counting all the casualties, highlighting the destruction in Mayotte’s slums of metal shacks and informal structures.
Former nurse Ousseni Balahachi reported that some individuals avoided seeking help, fearing deportation, and many remained in place until escape became impossible.
French authorities reported that entire neighborhoods have been flattened, while public infrastructure, including the main airport and hospital, suffered severe damage.
The airport control tower is non-functional, limiting access to military aircraft only, which has complicated rescue efforts. The cyclone's impact has also left Mayotte, France’s poorest department, without electricity, further hindering relief operations.
Rescue operations are underway, with French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arriving in the capital, Mamoudzou, on Monday morning. France is sending additional soldiers, firefighters, and medical personnel to Mayotte, with over 800 personnel expected in the coming days. Supplies, including medical equipment and blood for transfusions, are being delivered from Reunion Island by ship and military aircraft.

The devastating cyclone has severely disrupted healthcare facilities across Mayotte. Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq stated on France 2 that "the hospital has suffered major water damage and destruction, notably in the surgical, intensive care, maternity, and emergency units." Medical centres were also rendered non-operational.
As per AFP, Mamoudzou Mayor Ambdilwahedou Soumaila stated that nine people were in critical condition and 246 others were seriously injured, describing the situation as devastating. "Honestly, what we are experiencing is a tragedy. You feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighborhood disappear," said Mohamed Ishmael to Reuters, a resident of Mamoudzou.
Cyclone Chido, classified as a Category 4 storm with winds exceeding 220 kph (136 mph), is the strongest to hit the region in nearly a century. It also struck the Comoros Islands, causing minor damage, before making landfall in Mozambique on Sunday.
Mozambique authorities and aid agencies have reported that over two million people might be affected, with three deaths confirmed so far. The remnants of the storm are expected to bring heavy rain to Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, raising concerns about potential flooding.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered support on Sunday, posting on X, “Our hearts go out to France following the devastating passage of Cyclone Chido through Mayotte. We are ready to provide support in the days to come.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed readiness to assist, stating on X that his organization "stands ready to support communities in need of essential health care." PIROI, the regional Red Cross organization, also indicated its preparedness to help.
Authorities had ordered Mayotte’s 300,000 residents into lockdown as the cyclone approached. The storm caused widespread destruction, particularly in shantytowns housing a significant portion of the population, including many undocumented residents.
UNICEF is also providing assistance in Mozambique, where health facilities are already limited. The UN has warned that 1.7 million people in the region face risk from flooding as the cyclone continues its path inland.
Experts link Cyclone Chido’s intensity to climate change, with meteorologist François Gourand noting that unusually warm Indian Ocean temperatures contributed to its strength.
December through March is cyclone season in the southwestern Indian Ocean, and the region has experienced several devastating storms in recent years, including Cyclone Idai in 2019 and Cyclone Freddy in 2023.