French island territory hit by Cyclone Chido
The French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte was hit by the worst cyclone in nearly a century.
Cyclone Chido reportedly made landfall on Saturday, causing wind gusts in excess of 225 km/h (140 mph), killing at least two people and possibly more.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “support” the people of Mayotte, while French officials said 250 firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, some of whom have already arrived.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retaileleau said “all temporary homes have been completely destroyed” and he feared a “serious” death toll.
Mayotte, located in northwest Madagascar, is an archipelago consisting of a main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller islands.
There are approximately 300,000 residents on the island, most of whom live in shacks with metal roofs. Tens of thousands have lost their homes.
Electricity, water and internet connections were all knocked out. The Paris government has dispatched a military transport plane to deliver supplies and emergency personnel.
Francois Durovray, France’s acting transport minister, wrote on
He added that air traffic “will be restored first via military assistance aircraft. Ships are on the way to ensure supplies”.
Even before the hurricane hit in full force Saturday morning, there were reports of uprooted trees, torn roofs off buildings and downed power lines.
“Even emergency workers are blocked,” Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, president of the Mayotte firefighters union, told BFM news channel on Saturday morning.
He continued: “Without mobile phone service, we cannot reach people on the island. Even buildings built to seismic standards cannot withstand it.
“The emergency services command center has been evacuated and is operating at partial capacity.”
Interior Minister Retolo wrote in a statement on Day . The second dispatch will be for an additional 140 personnel tomorrow.”
French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who took office on Friday, said the hurricane was “extraordinarily severe” and that he was being updated on the situation “hourly”. He held an emergency meeting with ministers in Paris.
Mayotte was initially placed under the highest level of purple alert and imposed a “strict lockdown for the entire population, including emergency services”. It has since been lowered to red to allow emergency services personnel to leave the base.
Retailleu said the island had not experienced such severe weather since 1934.
Cyclone Chito is also expected to hit Mozambique on the African continent.
