A powerful 100-year cyclone tore through Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, ripping across the French archipelago and leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The storm, category 4 Cyclone Chido, brought winds of over 220 kilometers per hour, causing catastrophic damage to neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.
At least 14 people have been confirmed dead, but officials fear the true death toll could be in the hundreds or thousands due to the severity of the destruction. The island’s informal settlements and shacks, home to around 100,000 undocumented migrants, were particularly hard hit.
France has deployed hundreds of rescuers, firefighters, and police from its mainland territories, including Reunion, to provide emergency aid. However, communication networks remain down, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage and locate survivors.
The cyclone’s impact is attributed to climate change, which scientists say is fueling more destructive tropical cyclones by warming oceans and moist air. The storm is part of Cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean, typically running from mid-November to April.
As Mayotte struggles to recover, concerns remain about the island’s poverty, unemployment, and deepening migration crisis. Desperate family members have taken to social media to search for news of their loved ones, while aid efforts continue to unfold.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/16/africa/mayotte-cyclone-chido-intl-hnk/index.html