Cyclone Chido Claims Two Lives and Inflicts Severe Damage in Mayotte, France
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Paris, Dec 15 (NationPress) At least two individuals have lost their lives and significant material destruction has been reported in Mayotte as Cyclone Chido made its way across the French Indian Ocean territory.
The formidable storm, which unleashed winds exceeding 220 km/h, resulted in the fatalities in Petite-Terre. Authorities have issued a red alert for the island.
France has sent reinforcements, comprising 140 civil security personnel and firefighters, to aid in rescue and recovery operations. They are anticipated to arrive in Mayotte on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France would support the residents of Mayotte, while French officials indicated that 250 firefighters and security staff would be dispatched to the islands, with some already on site.
Following an interministerial crisis meeting, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau remarked that "the situation is dramatic, absolutely exceptional." However, he did not reveal a final human toll at this moment, as reported by Xinhua news agency quoting French media BFM TW.
He is set to visit Mayotte on Monday, according to his office's statement to French media.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Chido is a compact yet potent storm currently posing a threat to Mozambique. This cyclone is the fourth tropical disturbance, the second tropical cyclone, and the second intense tropical cyclone of the 2024–25 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. Chido originated from a tropical disturbance southeast of Diego Garcia that was first recorded on December 5. It continued westward and gradually intensified before being officially named Chido on December 8. After undergoing rapid intensification, Chido made landfall at Agaléga in Mauritius on December 11, reaching its peak intensity the following day. After traversing northern Madagascar, Chido briefly weakened but swiftly regained strength, before making its second landfall near Bandraboua, Mayotte on December 14, before slightly weakening again later that day.
Initially, Mayotte was under a purple alert—the highest alert level—and a "strict lockdown for the entire population, including emergency services" was enforced. This alert has since been downgraded to red to enable emergency services to leave their bases.
