Cyclone Chido Leaves Mayotte Reeling: 14 Dead and Thousands Stranded Without Essentials

Cyclone Chido has unleashed devastation in Mayotte, a French Indian Ocean territory, leaving at least 14 dead and thousands displaced in what has been described as a humanitarian disaster. The storm struck with unparalleled force, dismantling infrastructure and plunging residents into chaos. As rescue operations struggle against logistical challenges, officials warn that the full extent of the damage will take days, or even weeks, to assess.

What Happened in Mayotte During Cyclone Chido?

Cyclone Chido, a powerful tropical storm supercharged by unusually warm waters in the Indian Ocean, made landfall over Mayotte on Saturday. Its 226-kilometre-per-hour gusts flattened homes, tore through power lines, and rendered entire shantytowns uninhabitable. The densely populated island of Mayotte, with over 320,000 residents, is facing its worst crisis in decades.

Acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the aftermath as catastrophic, stating that “everything is razed, and it will take days to fully comprehend the toll.” Many families remain cut off from vital services like electricity and clean drinking water.

Authorities in Mayotte confirmed that nine critically injured individuals are in intensive care, with an additional 246 people seriously hurt. Local hospitals, themselves damaged by the storm, are struggling to manage the influx of patients.

How Did Cyclone Chido Affect Mayotte’s Infrastructure?

Mayotte’s fragile infrastructure was no match for the force of Cyclone Chido. The island’s shantytowns, which house one-third of the population, were completely obliterated. Tin roofs and makeshift walls were blown away, leaving families exposed to the elements.

Critical services are also in disarray. The territory’s Pamandzi Airport sustained major damage, hampering both evacuation efforts and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Electricity remains out for more than 15,000 homes, while emergency communication networks are unreliable, making it difficult to coordinate relief efforts.

Residents described the destruction in vivid detail. A local survivor, Ibrahim, referred to the scene as “apocalyptic,” saying he had to clear roads littered with debris just to reach safety.

What Are the Ongoing Challenges in Mayotte?

Emergency relief efforts are underway, but the scale of the crisis presents numerous hurdles. France has deployed 160 additional soldiers and firefighters, reinforcing the 110 personnel already stationed on the islands. Medical teams and vital supplies, including drinking water and food, are being flown in from La Réunion, located 1,400 kilometres away.

However, delivering aid to those most in need is proving difficult due to blocked roads and damaged infrastructure. Environment Minister Agnes-Pannier Runacher revealed that telephone access is limited even for emergency calls, further complicating rescue missions.

Retailleau is scheduled to visit Mayotte on Monday to assess the situation and oversee recovery operations. Despite these efforts, rebuilding Mayotte’s already fragile systems will likely take months.

Cyclone Chido’s Impact on the Indian Ocean Region

While Mayotte bore the brunt of Cyclone Chido, the storm continued its destructive path across the Indian Ocean, slamming into Mozambique early Sunday. The northern city of Pemba reported gale-force winds and heavy rainfall, with communication lines severed since early morning.

The United Nations estimates that up to 1.7 million people are at risk across the region, including parts of Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, which are expected to face flash floods from the cyclone’s remnants. UNICEF has already mobilised teams in Mozambique to ensure the continuity of essential services like healthcare and education.

How Climate Change Fuels Cyclones Like Chido

Experts point to climate change as a driving factor behind Cyclone Chido’s intensity. Meteorologist Francois Gourand from Meteo France explained that the storm was supercharged by warmer-than-average Indian Ocean waters.

This cyclone follows a series of extreme weather events in the region, including Cyclones Gombe in 2022 and Freddy in 2023, which together claimed hundreds of lives in Mozambique. The trend highlights the growing threat that climate change poses to vulnerable island nations and coastal regions.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that Cyclone Chido’s intensity mirrored these earlier storms, with exceptional strength and heavy rainfall causing widespread devastation.

What Comes Next for Mayotte and the Region?

As Mayotte grapples with the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Chido, the focus remains on saving lives and providing critical supplies. However, long-term recovery will require international support to rebuild infrastructure and strengthen disaster preparedness.

The devastation caused by Cyclone Chido is a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences. Without intervention, the frequency and severity of such disasters are likely to increase, threatening millions of lives in vulnerable regions.

For Mayotte, the road to recovery will be long and arduous, but the resilience of its people, combined with coordinated relief efforts, offers hope amidst the devastation.