Barran Press - Hurrah channel
On December 14, 2024, a catastrophic cyclone struck the French archipelago of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, resulting in the deaths of hundreds, potentially thousands, of residents. François Xavier, the governor of Mayotte, shared this grim assessment during an interview with Mayotte La Première television.
Images released by the station depict extensive destruction across the archipelago, with the cyclone, named "Chidou," described as the “strongest and most severe” to hit the region. A local resident likened the devastation to “a nuclear bomb hitting Mayotte.”
While French authorities have suggested that the death toll may reach into the thousands, the official count currently stands at just 14 fatalities. French news outlet BFM TV reported that assessing the number of casualties is exceedingly difficult due to the scale of the destruction and the delayed arrival of rescue teams to the small archipelago.
An interior ministry official stated that determining the final death toll is a “very sensitive task,” noting that key infrastructure, including the island's hospital, airport, and schools, has been severely damaged.
Debris blocking major roads is hampering aid and rescue teams' access to the hardest-hit areas. Deputy Estelle Youssoufa remarked in a press interview that “the situation is extremely grave, as two-thirds of the island remains inaccessible,” and she speculated that “thousands may be buried under mudslides and debris, indicating a tragic disaster.”
The cyclone's winds reached speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, with rainfall totals nearing 200 millimeters recorded in just 12 hours, according to the specialized weather site La Chaîne Météo.
As Cyclone Chidou moves westward, meteorologists predict it may make landfall in Mozambique on the following Monday and Tuesday.