France’s impoverished overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean has been hit by the most severe cyclone in nearly a century. French ships and military aircraft were dispatched to the island for rescue efforts on Monday, December 16th. Local officials estimate that several hundreds, or even thousands, of people may have perished in this disaster.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the extent of casualties and property damage on the archipelago is still unclear. Mayotte’s prefect, Francois-Xavier Bieuville, stated on Sunday that the death toll “will definitely reach several hundreds, perhaps even a thousand, or even several thousands.”
The official death toll released on Monday morning is 14 people.
French Interior Minister Nicolas Daragon posted on the social media platform X, “The first batch of rescue aircraft has arrived in Mayotte to address the devastation caused by the cyclone. The nation is fully mobilized to support the residents of Mayotte through this ordeal.”
Rescue teams and medical personnel have been rushed to the area from France and the neighboring French territory of Reunion Island, along with several tons of relief supplies.
French television channel TF1 reported on Monday morning that French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau has arrived in the capital city of Mayotte, Mamoudzou. He stated, “It will take several days to determine the extent of casualties.”
French authorities have announced that over 800 rescue personnel will be arriving in the coming days to conduct search and rescue operations on this densely populated archipelago of about 300,000 residents. Cyclone Chedza struck the island on Saturday, causing massive destruction.
Meteo France, the French meteorological agency, stated that this storm is the most intense in over 90 years for Mayotte. Cyclone Chedza hit the archipelago with winds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour (136 miles per hour), classified as a Category 4 cyclone, the second-highest level.
Mayotte is located nearly 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) from Paris and serves as a primary destination for undocumented migrants from neighboring Comoros. The region is significantly poorer compared to other parts of France, with longstanding issues of gang violence.