Europe pledges aid as cyclone Chido devastates Mayotte
Ursula von der Leyen announced EU assistance to France following Cyclone Chido, which devastated Mayotte, a French overseas territory. The death toll could potentially reach several thousand people there.
"Our hearts are with France after the devastating Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte. Europe stands in solidarity with the residents of Mayotte during this terrible trial. We are ready to assist them in the coming days," von der Leyen wrote on platform X.
The Prefect of Mayotte, Francois-Xavier Bieuville, emphasized that Cyclone Chido is the strongest to affect the region in almost a century. He believes the death toll will "definitely reach several hundred, possibly approaching a thousand, or even several thousand". The French Ministry of the Interior stated that they cannot accurately determine the number of victims at this stage, although emergency services have confirmed at least 14 deaths.
Many didn't report to shelters for fear of deportation
It's unclear how many people are trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings or in shanty town shacks that were completely devastated by wind gusts exceeding 200 km/h.
According to the French Ministry of the Interior, more than 100,000 undocumented immigrants live in Mayotte. Many did not report to shelters fearing deportation.
The mayor of Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, reported that the cyclone destroyed numerous buildings, including the main hospital and a school. "Homes are destroyed," he said. The cyclone uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and knocked down electric poles, leaving most roads impassable.
Mayotte is a French department and overseas region located in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean.
