PARIS —
At least 14 people died and significant material damage was reported in Mayotte
as Cyclone Chido swept through the French Indian Ocean territory.
The powerful storm, which brought winds exceeding 220 km/h,
caused the fatalities in Petite-Terre. Authorities have activated a red alert
on the island.
France dispatched reinforcements, including 140 civil
security soldiers and firefighters, to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
They are expected to arrive in Mayotte on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would "be
there" for the people of Mayotte, while French officials said 250
firefighters and security personnel would be sent to the islands, with some
having already arrived.
After an interministerial crisis meeting, French Interior
Minister Bruno Retailleau told the media that "the situation is dramatic,
absolutely exceptional." However, he didn't disclose a definitive human
toll for the moment, Xinhua news agency reported quoting French Media BFM TW.
He is scheduled to visit Mayotte on Monday, his office told
French media.
Intense Tropical Cyclone Chido is a small but powerful
tropical cyclone currently threatening Mozambique. 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 formed
from a tropical disturbance southeast of Diego Garcia that was first noted on
December 5.
It continued westward and steadily intensified before being
named Chido on December 8. After it underwent rapid intensification, Chido made
landfall at Agaléga in Mauritius on December 11, peaking in intensity the
following day. After passing through northern Madagascar, Chido briefly
weakened but quickly regained intensity, before making its second landfall near
Bandraboua, Mayotte on December 14, before slightly weakening again later that
day.
Mayotte was initially placed under a purple alert -- the
highest level -- and a "strict lockdown for the whole population,
including emergency services" was imposed. It has since been lowered to
red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.
