Cyclone Chido Ravages Mayotte, Leaving Widespread Devastation
At Least 14 Dead, Thousands Injured, and Many More in Peril
SAINT-DENIS DE LA REUNION: At least 14 people were killed in Mayotte when a fierce cyclone battered the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said Sunday, with officials warning it will take days to know the full toll.
Rescue Efforts Underway, But Challenges Remain
Rescue workers and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but their efforts are likely to be hindered by damage to airports and electricity distribution in a territory where even clean drinking water was already subject to chronic shortages.
Gravely Wounded and Injured
Nine people were gravely wounded and fighting for their lives in hospital, said Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, mayor of Mayotte’s capital Mamoudzou, while 246 more were seriously injured.
Houses "Totally Devastated"
"The hospital is hit, the schools are hit. Houses are totally devastated," he said, adding that the hurricane "spared nothing."
Lockdown in Place
Mayotte’s 320,000 residents were ordered into lockdown as cyclone Chido bore down on the islands around 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of Mozambique.
Gusts of Up to 226 km/h
Its gusts of at least 226 kilometres per hour had "completely destroyed" the territory’s many shantytowns, acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said following a crisis meeting in Paris late Saturday.
Electricity Poles Hurlled to the Ground
Electricity poles were hurled to the ground, trees uprooted and sheet-metal roofs and walls torn off improvised structures inhabited by at least one-third of the population.
Death Toll Expected to be Heavy
"It will take several days" to establish the full death toll, but "we fear that it is heavy", Retailleau said, adding that the Muslim custom of burial within a day of a death could complicate the count.
Slow Information Flow
Information from the locked-down population, in shock and largely cut off from water and electricity supplies, is slow to filter out, a source familiar with the recovery effort told AFP.
Scramble for Supplies
Retailleau will travel to Mayotte on Monday, his office said, alongside 160 soldiers and firefighters to reinforce the 110 already deployed to the islands from mainland France ahead of the storm.
UNICEF and OCHA Respond
UNICEF said it was on the ground to help the people impacted by the storm, which had already caused some damage. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that some 1.7 million people were in danger, and said the remnants of the cyclone could also dump "significant rainfall" on neighbouring Malawi through Monday, potentially triggering flash floods.
Cyclone Chido: A Global Issue
Cyclone Chido is the latest in a string of storms worldwide to be fuelled by climate change, according to experts. The "exceptional" cyclone was super-charged by particularly warm Indian Ocean waters, meteorologist Francois Gourand of France’s Meteo France weather service told AFP.
Conclusion
The devastating impact of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte has left a trail of destruction and death in its wake. As the full extent of the damage becomes clear, the international community must come together to support those affected and work towards a more sustainable future.
FAQs
Q: How many people were killed in the cyclone?
A: At least 14 people were killed in the cyclone.
Q: How many people were injured in the cyclone?
A: 246 people were seriously injured, with an additional 9 gravely wounded and fighting for their lives.
Q: What is the current situation in Mayotte?
A: The territory is under lockdown, with many without access to clean drinking water, electricity, or telephone services.
Q: What is the international response to the cyclone?
A: UNICEF and OCHA are on the ground, providing support and assistance to those affected by the storm.