Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to hit the French Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte in nearly a century, has left a trail of devastation, with fears that the death toll could reach into the thousands.
The cyclone, which packed winds exceeding 200 km/hr, caused widespread destruction before moving on to Mozambique and now poses a threat to Zimbabwe, bringing the prospect of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
The scale of the tragedy in Mayotte is immense. “I think there will certainly be several hundreds, maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands,” stated prefect François-Xavier Bieuville on local media channel Mayotte La 1ère, expressing his grim assessment of the potential death toll.
The French interior ministry acknowledged the difficulty in accurately accounting for all victims at this early stage, stating, “it will be difficult to account for all victims” and that a precise figure could not yet be determined.
The devastation is vividly captured in eyewitness accounts and imagery. Video footage from the French gendarmerie depicted the wreckage of hundreds of makeshift houses scattered across hillsides. Mohamed Ishmael, a resident of Mayotte’s capital Mamoudzou, described the scene to Reuters: “Honestly, what we are experiencing is a tragedy, you feel like you are in the aftermath of a nuclear war… I saw an entire neighbourhood disappear.”
Images from local media showed a mother navigating flooded corridors of the hospital with her baby’s crib, while capsized police boats and coconut trees embedded in building roofs underscored the storm’s destructive power.
One hospital in Mayotte reported nine people in critical condition and 246 injured. The French government has responded swiftly, deploying 1,600 police and gendarmerie officers to assist local rescuers and firefighters. Supplies are being flown and shipped in from Reunion Island and other areas. The disaster represents an immediate challenge for Prime Minister Bayrou, appointed just days before the cyclone struck.
Mayotte, an impoverished overseas department of France, with a population exceeding 300,000, including over 100,000 undocumented migrants, has faced decades of challenges including drought, underinvestment, and gang violence. The cyclone has exacerbated these existing vulnerabilities, raising concerns about access to food, water, and sanitation.
An official from the French interior ministry noted the added complexity of determining casualty figures due to local burial customs: “For the toll, it’s going to be complicated, because Mayotte is a Muslim land where the dead are buried within 24 hours.”
Meanwhile, the cyclone’s impact extended beyond Mayotte. Comoros reported two minor injuries, 24 displaced persons, and 21 destroyed homes. In Mozambique, where Chido made landfall on Sunday, the full extent of the damage remains unclear, though NetBlocks reported that heavy rain and winds had disrupted power and telecommunications infrastructure. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that approximately 2.7 million people across six Southern African countries would be affected by the cyclone.
“More influence over Zimbabwe is projected to be from the cloud-band emanating from the west, through both Matabeleland provinces. This should result in widespread thunderstorms throughout the week,” Mr Ngoma stated.
He further detailed the expected rainfall, noting that provinces like Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, southern parts of Matabeleland North, Midlands, and Masvingo could experience rainfall exceeding 50mm. While the risk of flooding is considered low due to a recent dry spell, Mr Ngoma cautioned that the heat experienced last week could lead to violent storms with lightning, strong winds, and hailstorms in some areas. Provinces of particular concern include Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, and the southern parts of Midlands.
In response to the impending weather event, local authorities and disaster management agencies are urging residents to be vigilant and prepared. Communities are advised to stock up on essential supplies and stay updated through official weather reports. The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has been placed on high alert, with director Mr Nathan Nkomo confirming that they are closely monitoring the situation and receiving daily updates from the MSD and the climate service centre.
Mr Nkomo also revealed that a budget of US$1.6 million has been allocated to address the potential impact of Cyclone Chido, focusing on coordination, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) related issues, and support for refugees and settlements. The situation remains fluid, and My Zimbabwe News will provide updates as they become available.
