MAYOTTE — Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in over 90 years, has caused widespread devastation across the French Indian Ocean territory, with authorities warning that the death toll could reach several hundred, or even thousands.
François-Xavier Bieuville, the prefect of Mayotte, described the cyclone’s impact as catastrophic. “I think there will certainly be several hundred [dead], maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands,” he said on the local channel Mayotte La 1ère.
The French Interior Ministry has said it will be difficult to determine the exact number of victims. “It will be challenging to account for all victims,” a ministry spokesperson said, citing logistical and cultural obstacles. Mayotte’s predominantly Muslim population traditionally buries the dead within 24 hours, complicating efforts to tally fatalities.
Unprecedented Destruction
Cyclone Chido, with wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), tore through Mayotte overnight, according to weather agency Météo-France. Makeshift housing, government buildings, and a hospital were severely damaged, leaving many residents without shelter or access to essential services.
Aerial footage shared by the French gendarmerie revealed entire communities reduced to rubble, with hundreds of makeshift homes destroyed. Mayotte, a hub for undocumented migration from the nearby Comoros islands, has long grappled with fragile housing conditions.
“My thoughts are with our compatriots in Mayotte, who have gone through the most horrific few hours and who have, for some, lost everything, lost their lives,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
A Territory Under Strain
Mayotte, located 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from Paris, is one of France’s most impoverished territories. Approximately 77 percent of its population lives below the French poverty line, and the region has faced chronic water shortages, gang violence, and social unrest in recent years.
The archipelago has also become a focal point for migration from Comoros, where thousands of people attempt perilous crossings to Mayotte in search of better living conditions. Over 100,000 undocumented migrants currently reside on the islands, according to the French Interior Ministry.
The cyclone has raised urgent concerns about access to food, water, and sanitation for Mayotte’s vulnerable population. Relief efforts are expected to be complicated by the island’s distance from mainland France—a journey that takes four days by sea—and damaged infrastructure.
A Legacy of Division
Mayotte, colonized by France in 1843, remains an overseas department governed from Paris, while the neighboring Comoros islands gained independence in 1975. The split followed a 1974 referendum in which 63 percent of Mayotte’s population voted to remain French.
Tensions over Mayotte’s status have lingered, with Comoros claiming the island as part of its territory. Despite its French affiliation, Mayotte remains significantly poorer than mainland France, and its infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle disasters of this magnitude.
Regional Impact
After battering Mayotte, Cyclone Chido moved toward northern Mozambique on Sunday, where it caused further destruction. Internet monitor NetBlocks reported widespread power and telecommunications outages in affected areas, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
