Several hundred people are feared dead on the French island of Mayotte after Cyclone Chido, the most destructive storm in 90 years, brought wind speeds of up to 140mph (225km/h) and waves reaching eight meters high, according to BBC report. Authorities warn that the true scale of the disaster could be catastrophic. The island’s prefect cautioned that the death toll could rise to “close to a thousand or even several thousand.”
Rescue operations are underway but hampered by the widespread destruction. French civil security spokesperson Alexandre Jouassard highlighted the urgency, told BBC, “The next minutes and hours are very important. We are used to working in these conditions, and a few days after, you have pockets of survivors.” However, many areas remain inaccessible due to damaged roads, downed power lines, and communication blackouts.
The French Red Cross has described the situation as “chaotic.” Eric Sam Vah, speaking from the neighboring island of Réunion, said they have only managed to reach a fraction of their 200 volunteers on Mayotte. “Most of the slums have been totally destroyed. And we haven’t received any report of displaced people. So the reality could be terrible in the coming days,” he warned.
Mayotte is one of the poorest regions of France with a population of around 300,000. A resident described the devastation, told BBC that he “saw an entire neighborhood disappear.” The island’s central hospital has suffered major damage, further complicating relief efforts. French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq confirmed, “The health system is seriously affected and access to care has been seriously degraded. The Mayotte hospital centre has suffered significant material damage,” including destruction in critical units like surgery, maternity, and intensive care. Mobile medical services are being set up to manage the crisis.
The impact of Cyclone Chido has brought renewed attention to the role of climate change in intensifying storms. While scientists will study Chido’s specific connection to climate change, trends show that warmer ocean waters and higher atmospheric moisture are leading to stronger cyclones. BBC Weather’s Sarah Keith-Lucas noted that the sea surface temperature in the Mozambique Channel is currently around 1.5°C above average. Warmer waters provide the energy that fuels these storms, allowing them to intensify rapidly. With every 1°C rise in temperature, the atmosphere holds 7% more moisture, which likely exacerbated the heavy rainfall witnessed during Chido.
After devastating Mayotte, Cyclone Chido continued westward and made its third landfall on Sunday south of Pemba in Mozambique, still packing winds above 200km/h (124 mph). It has since weakened into a depression but remains dangerous due to intense rainfall, which threatens flooding and landslides. As the storm tracks inland, it is expected to move through southern Malawi, Mozambique’s Tete province, and Zimbabwe, with rainfall totals predicted between 150-300mm by Tuesday. French authorities are mobilizing resources to address the immediate crisis. As per BBC report, over 110 soldiers have been deployed to Mayotte, with another 160 arriving alongside the French interior minister later today. However, rescue operations remain an immense challenge as infrastructure damage impedes movement and access.
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