At least 11 people have died after Cyclone Chido hit the French overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, according to the French Ministry of the Interior.
The Ministry also warned that the death toll could rise. Mayotte’s hospital reported that nine people are in critical condition, while 246 others have been injured.
The tropical cyclone passed through the southeast Indian Ocean, also affecting nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar. Mayotte, directly in the cyclone’s path, sustained severe damage on Saturday. The Prefect of Mayotte called it the worst cyclone to hit the island in the last 90 years.
Cidre brought winds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour, tearing off metal roofs and destroying many buildings. Some entire neighborhoods were leveled, and the main airport also suffered significant damage.
The cyclone has now reached Mozambique, where officials warned that 2.5 million people could be affected. Malawi and Zimbabwe are also preparing for the storm’s impact, with both countries warning that evacuations might be necessary in low-lying areas due to the risk of flooding.
