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Several hundred were feared dead after the Mayotte typhoon

The death toll from the storm that hit France’s Indian Ocean region of Mayotte on Saturday could be in the hundreds, a local official has warned.

Entire communities were wiped out when Cyclone Chido made landfall, packing winds of over 225km/h (140mph).

The last reported death toll stood at 11 but speaking to local media, the island’s governor Francois-Xavier Bieuville said it would be “a few hundred” once the damage is fully assessed, adding that “several thousand people may have died”.

French President Emmanuel Macron earlier said France would “be there” for the people of Mayotte and send 250 rescuers.

Destruction after the typhoon that hit Mayotte on December 15th [AFP]

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau said “all temporary homes have been completely destroyed” and feared a “heavy” death toll.

On Saturday, a local news source reported that 11 people were killed and 246 injured, according to a hospital report. AFP reported the highest death toll – at least 14 – citing a security source.

Located in the northwest of Madagascar, Mayotte is an archipelago made up of one main island, Grand-Terre, and several smaller ones.

Most of the island’s 300,000 or so residents live in tin-roofed shacks, and tens of thousands of people have lost their homes.

Electricity, water and internet are all out. The Paris government sent a plane to transport troops and supplies and emergency workers.

The Pamandzi airport in the area “suffered serious damage, especially to the control tower,” acting French Transport Minister Francois Durovray wrote in X.

Air traffic “will be restored initially with military assistance flights. Ships are on the way to ensure resupply,” he added.

Even before this typhoon hit with force on Saturday morning, there were reports of trees being uprooted, roofs of buildings blown off and power lines downed.

The head of the union of firefighters in Mayotte, Abdoul Karim Ahmed Allaoui, told the news channel BFM on Saturday morning that “even the paramedics are locked down”.

He continued: “There is no mobile phone and we cannot reach people on the island. Even earthquake-proof buildings are still standing.

“The emergency command center has been evacuated and is partially operational.”

People stand or crouch on the ground next to rubble and destroyed homes in Mayotte
[AFP]

Interior Minister Retaileau wrote in a statement to X: “I offer my full support to the people of Mayotte. Federal and local emergencies are fully coordinated. 110 public security personnel and firefighters have been deployed and are in place. The second deployment will be made tomorrow with additional personnel of -140.”

French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who took office on Friday, said the storm was “very serious” and was being updated on the situation “hour by hour”. He held an emergency meeting in Paris with the minister.

Initially Mayotte was placed under a purple alert – the highest level – and a “strict closure for all people, including emergency services” was imposed. It has since been reduced to red to allow emergency services to leave their bases.

Retaileau said the island has not had such bad weather since 1934.

After hitting Mayotte, the storm intensified overnight as it crossed the Mozambique Channel.

The coastal town of Pemba was hit by heavy rains and wind gusts of up to 185km/h (115mph).

Videos on social media show parts of Pemba town flooded, trees uprooted and some homes destroyed.

This typhoon is entering the country, as heavy rains have been reported in the neighboring province of Nampula.

Although winds are expected to ease, heavy rain and flooding are also forecast for southern Malawi and later Zimbabwe.

Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe

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