The French territory of Mayotte in the Indian ocean has been struck by a powerful cyclone, causing widespread devastation across the islands. The storm, which hit overnight, has left severe destruction. Early reports suggest significant loss of life, but the exact toll remains uncertain.
The French territory of Mayotte is reeling from the impact of Cyclone Chido, with local authorities estimating that the death toll could reach several hundred or even thousands. Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville spoke to local media on Sunday, describing the cyclone as the worst to hit the island in 90 years.
"The human toll is much higher than what we are able to report at this stage," Bieuville said. While the French Interior Ministry confirmed at least 11 fatalities and more than 250 injuries, the final numbers are expected to rise significantly as the destruction is fully assessed.
The tropical storm, which struck on Saturday, wreaked havoc on public infrastructure, causing severe damage to the airport, homes, and essential services. Many neighborhoods have been completely flattened, and widespread power outages continue to affect the region.
Mayotte, located in the southwestern Indian Ocean near Africa, is France's poorest territory, with a population of just over 300,000. The worst damage has been reported in the slums, where informal housing made from metal shacks bore the brunt of the storm. Bieuville emphasized that the current official death toll doesn't reflect the severity of the destruction in these areas.
Cyclone Chido, which passed through Mayotte after hitting the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar, brought winds exceeding 220 km/h (136 mph), making it a Category 4 storm, the second most intense classification.
France has deployed rescue teams and emergency supplies to assist the affected population, but recovery will be a long and difficult process.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China next week for talks with President Xi Jinping, to attend a regional security summit, and to appe...
U.S. President Donald Trump has cancelled Secret Service protection for Democratic Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Kamala Harris acc...
Georgia’s ruling party is pointing to recent remarks by former USAID Administrator Samantha Power as evidence that U.S. aid programs are used to inf...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian and health crisis in 2025, with millions of returni...
A woman pinned beneath concrete, a man with a badly broken leg, a child trapped under the rubble....
Last month, I stood in the dusty courtyard of a rural clinic in western Kenya’s port city of Kisumu, watching mothers wait hours under a relentless sun, clutching children weakened by fever, hoping for HIV drugs that were delayed once more
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China next week for talks with President Xi Jinping, to attend a regional security summit, and to appear as Xi’s “main guest” at a military parade on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the Kremlin announced on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has cancelled Secret Service protection for Democratic Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Kamala Harris according to a senior White House official.
Georgia’s ruling party is pointing to recent remarks by former USAID Administrator Samantha Power as evidence that U.S. aid programs are used to influence political regimes abroad. The comments, made during a prank interview, have fueled debate in Tbilisi over sovereignty, NGOs, and foreign funding.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China next week for talks with President Xi Jinping, to attend a regional security summit, and to appear as Xi’s “main guest” at a military parade on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the Kremlin announced on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has cancelled Secret Service protection for Democratic Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Kamala Harris according to a senior White House official.
Georgia’s ruling party is pointing to recent remarks by former USAID Administrator Samantha Power as evidence that U.S. aid programs are used to influence political regimes abroad. The comments, made during a prank interview, have fueled debate in Tbilisi over sovereignty, NGOs, and foreign funding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian and health crisis in 2025, with millions of returning refugees expected to stretch the country’s already fragile health system.
A woman pinned beneath concrete, a man with a badly broken leg, a child trapped under the rubble.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment