Overview
- Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte with winds exceeding 220 km/h, causing widespread destruction, particularly in shantytowns where many homes were completely destroyed.
- The provisional death toll stands at 14, with nine people critically injured and 246 others seriously hurt, though officials fear the numbers may rise as assessments continue.
- Over 15,000 homes have lost electricity, the main airport suffered severe damage, and access to clean water remains a critical challenge for the island's 320,000 residents.
- Rescue efforts are underway, with reinforcements from mainland France, including 160 soldiers and firefighters, joining local teams to distribute aid and medical supplies.
- Experts have linked the storm's intensity to unusually warm Indian Ocean waters, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events in vulnerable regions.