Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mayotte on 14 December with torrential rainfall and wind speeds of more than 200 km per hour.
Mayotte, a densely populated archipelago located between Madagascar and the African continent, has more than 320,000 residents. Although the exact number of deaths is still uncertain, reports suggests the death toll may have reached close to the thousands.
In the capital city, Mamoudzou, the cyclone caused widespread destruction. Schools, hospitals, restaurants, and offices were left in ruins. Strong winds ripped off roofs and broke down palm trees. Electricity was down across the archipelago, with only the capital spared. As electricity was down, telecommunications were severely disrupted.
On 16 December, France used ships and military aircraft to rush rescue teams and supplies to the affected areas, with daily airlifts delivering 20 tons of water and food to address urgent needs.
Related Resources:
Cyclone Chido in Madagascar
Cyclone Chido in Mozambique
