Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2024, leaving at least 21 confirmed dead and over 830 injured, with authorities fearing that deaths may reach several hundred or even thousands. Affecting one-third of the island’s population, significant infrastructure, including hospitals, sustained major damage, and over 100,000 people have been relocated to emergency centers.
Tropical Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to strike Mayotte in nearly a century, made landfall on Saturday, December 14, 2024. The cyclone, rated equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, devastated the island, resulting in a confirmed death toll of at least 21 individuals, with over 830 others sustaining injuries. Alarmingly, local authorities project that the fatalities could climb into the hundreds or even thousands as the extent of the destruction becomes clearer.
Winds reaching 180 to 230 km/h caused extensive damage, uprooting trees, downing power lines, and tearing roofs off homes. The local government urged approximately 320,000 residents to remain in confined spaces as the storm impacted the region. Scenes of devastation surfaced on December 15, highlighting the urgent need for aid and support.
As of December 16, authorities confirmed that one-third of the population was rendered homeless, and more than 100,000 people had been relocated to 70 designated emergency centers. Additionally, approximately 15,000 residents faced power outages. Aerial footage displayed the wreckage of numerous makeshift houses scattered throughout the area, while critical infrastructure, including hospitals, suffered considerable harm, rendering many medical facilities inoperable.
The French government’s representative in Mayotte, Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, expressed concerns about the potential firestorm of casualties, stating, “Maybe we will reach a thousand or even several thousand.” Local health minister Geneviève Darrieussecq echoed these sentiments, indicating that the current casualty figures likely represent a severe underestimate of the actual impact of the cyclone.
In response to the crisis, Minister Bruno Retailleau visited Mayotte with a contingent of 160 soldiers and firefighters to assist in the recovery efforts. A first aid airplane has already delivered critical medical supplies, including blood for transfusions, while additional military support is anticipated to bolster the on-ground rescue and recovery operations as the situation continues to develop.
Tropical Cyclone Chido constitutes a significant natural disaster, representing the most intense meteorological event to affect Mayotte in ninety years. As a territory of France located in the Indian Ocean, Mayotte is particularly vulnerable to cyclones, and this event underscores the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather phenomena exacerbated by climate change. Understanding the impacts of such disasters requires a comprehensive approach to emergency management, recovery efforts, and infrastructural resilience in the face of natural calamities.
In summary, Tropical Cyclone Chido has inflicted catastrophic damage on Mayotte, with an alarming number of casualties and extensive infrastructure loss. The pathway to recovery will demand coordinated efforts between the local government, national authorities, and international support, given the pressing need for medical assistance and shelter for the displaced population. The situation remains critical as recovery efforts continue and the full scale of devastation becomes more apparent.
Original Source: watchers.news
