Authorities in France’s Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte said the death toll from the powerful Cyclone Chido that hit the island over the weekend is likely to be very high—between several hundred and a few thousand—is what is the worst cyclone to hit the region in over 90 years.
A photo taken on Sunday shows a pile of debris of metal sheets, wood, furniture and belongings after ... [+]
The prefect of the Mayotte territory, François-Xavier Bieuville, told local broadcasters on Sunday that the official death toll currently stands at 14 but the numbers are very preliminary and he expects the actual number to be significantly higher.
Bieuville said he thinks the final toll is “much heavier…probably several hundred, maybe a thousand, even a few thousand.”
Cyclone Chido made landfall with wind speeds of 226 km/h (140 mph), which is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, and it was accompanied by storm surges between 13-28 feet.
On Monday, rescuers—including emergency workers who arrived from France and the nearby French territory of Reunion—are battling against time to find survivors, France 24 reported.
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Mayotte is located in the Indian Ocean along the Southeastern coast of Africa and it is home to more than 321,000 residents. The territory is one of the poorest regions of France and Bieuville noted that many of its residents live in “shantytowns”—which were destroyed by the cyclone. A very large majority of the island’s residents are Muslims and local authorities said religious customs require them to bury deceased people within 24 hours—which may make it harder to get a proper estimate of the death toll.
Although it is located nearly 5000 miles away from Paris, the island has been at the center of a key immigration debate in France as many asylum seekers from the nearby African nation of Comoros have been arriving at the island in large numbers in hopes of securing French citizenship. Earlier this year, the move triggered a legislative push to end automatic birthright citizenship for people born on the island.
This photo provided by the Gendarmerie Nationale shows a vehicle of the Gendarmerie Nationale ... [+]
French weather authorities said Chido is the worst cyclone to hit the region in over 90 years.
Authorities warned the death toll from the Cyclone could be as high as several thousands.
This photograph shows a classroom of a destroyed primary school Mayotte's capital Mamoudzou.
The cyclone made landfall Saturday with wind speeds as high as 140 mph.
Emergency workers and soldiers from France and nearby French territory of Reunion arrived in ... [+]