Paris, Dec 18 (NationPress) French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday after India offered its assistance in the wake of Cyclone Chido, a calamitous storm that hit the French archipelago of Mayotte on Saturday.

As reported by Meteo-France, Cyclone Chido was the most powerful storm to strike Mayotte in over 90 years.

The fierce winds devastated entire neighborhoods, dismantled electrical systems, and inflicted significant harm on vital infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and the control tower of the airport.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had expressed his condolences, stating, "Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I am confident that under President Emmanuel Macron's leadership, France will overcome this tragedy with resilience and resolve. India stands in solidarity with France and is ready to extend all possible assistance."

In response to PM Modi’s message, President Macron shared on the social media platform X, "Thank you for your thoughts and support, dear Narendra Modi."

Cyclone Chido, classified as a Category 4 storm, caused extensive destruction as it traversed the southwestern Indian Ocean over the weekend.

The cyclone initially struck northern Madagascar before rapidly intensifying and making landfall in Mayotte, with wind speeds surpassing 220 km per hour (136 miles per hour).

This storm, impacting an archipelago of more than 300,000 inhabitants, continued its destructive path into northern Mozambique, where it caused further devastation before gradually weakening.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou noted, "Everyone understands that this was a cyclone that was unexpectedly violent," during an inter-ministerial meeting.

The cyclone's impact has been severe, with officials fearing that the death toll could reach into the thousands.

According to Prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville, "I think there will definitely be several hundred, perhaps we will come close to a thousand or even several thousand" deaths, as reported by broadcaster Mayotte la Premiere.

Initial reports confirmed at least 11 fatalities, but numbers are likely to increase as search and rescue operations proceed.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) raised concerns on Tuesday regarding the fate of over 200 of its volunteers who are feared missing in Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido.

"Winds of up to 220 km/h from Cyclone Chido have wreaked havoc on the French overseas territory of Mayotte. It is feared that more than 200 ... volunteers are missing," stated the IFRC on X.