France deployed ships and military aircraft on Monday to deliver urgent aid to Mayotte, its island territory off Africa’s east coast, after Cyclone Chido wreaked unprecedented havoc over the weekend. Authorities fear the death toll could reach hundreds or even thousands, making this the island’s deadliest natural disaster in nearly a century.
Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, battered Mayotte on Saturday with winds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour (136 mph), according to the French weather service. The storm flattened entire neighborhoods, uprooted palm trees, and destroyed critical infrastructure, leaving streets strewn with debris.
The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, described the situation as catastrophic. “Mayotte is totally devastated,” he said, estimating that 70% of the population had been severely affected.
As of Monday evening, French authorities confirmed 21 deaths with 45 people critically injured. However, Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq warned that the toll would likely rise dramatically. “This is a massive undercount given the scale of the disaster,” she stated. Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, the top French government official in Mayotte, said on Sunday that the actual number of dead could number in the hundreds, possibly thousands, though Muslim burial customs and the scale of destruction make exact figures difficult to ascertain.
In the capital, Mamoudzou, resident Fahar Abdoulhamidi described a scene of chaos and despair. “There’s no water, no electricity. Entire buildings are gone, schools, hospitals — everything is destroyed. Nobody imagined it would be this bad,” he said.
With telecommunications severely disrupted and most power lines down, only Mamoudzou retained partial electricity access. Clean water has become scarce, fueling fears of a public health crisis. Senator Salama Ramia stressed the urgency of the situation, telling French broadcaster BFM-TV, “Hunger is rising. Children and babies are suffering. It’s critical that aid reaches the people quickly.”
For Mayotte’s most vulnerable, including migrants living in informal settlements known as “bangas,” the cyclone’s impact has been especially devastating. Many ignored evacuation orders, fearing looting or deportation if they sought shelter.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep sorrow, announcing plans to visit Mayotte in the coming days and declaring a national mourning period. “This tragedy has shaken each of us,” Macron said.
France has mobilized significant resources to respond to the disaster. The Interior Ministry confirmed the deployment of 1,500 additional personnel, including 800 military and civilian security forces, 400 gendarmes, and engineers tasked with infrastructure repairs. Daily airlifts are delivering 20 tons of water and food, while a field hospital is scheduled to arrive on Thursday to address critical medical needs after the island’s main hospital sustained heavy damage.
Mayotte’s airport, a critical link for aid delivery, remains closed due to extensive damage to its control tower. Authorities expect limited operations to resume by Thursday.
Mayotte, the poorest territory of France — and by extension, the European Union — has long faced systemic underinvestment and poverty. Around 75% of the population lives below the poverty line, and median disposable income is a fraction of what it is in mainland France. Political unrest and water shortages exacerbated by mismanagement have fueled growing dissatisfaction in recent years.
The French Red Cross called the devastation “unimaginable,” as rescuers continued searching for survivors in inaccessible areas.
After devastating Mayotte, Cyclone Chido continued westward, striking Mozambique on Sunday. The storm killed three people, injured 34, and destroyed classrooms in multiple schools. In neighboring Malawi, two additional deaths were reported.
Southern Africa remains highly vulnerable to cyclones during the December-March season. Recent years have seen devastating storms, including Cyclone Idai in 2019, which claimed over 1,300 lives, and Cyclone Freddy in 2023, which killed over 1,000 across several countries.
The European Parliament observed a minute of silence on Monday for the victims of Cyclone Chido. President Roberta Metsola pledged support for the French territory, stating, “Mayotte is Europe, and Europe will not abandon you.”
As rescue and recovery operations intensify, France’s response will be closely watched amid calls for long-term investment in Mayotte to prevent future disasters.
