Weather
Where is Mayotte, the French territory hit by cyclone Chido, where hundreds may have died?
While the confirmed casualties is already into three figures, the reality could reach into the thousands as the natural disaster hits hard.
The devastating cyclone that tore through Mayotte over the weekend has left the island reeling. Hundreds, possibly thousands, are feared dead, with countless others still unaccounted for. Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to hit Mayotte in over 90 years, ripped through this French overseas territory, bringing winds topping 124 mph and causing catastrophic destruction.
As rescue teams race against time, the full extent of the disaster remains unknown. The local hospital in Mamoudzou, the island’s capital, is severely damaged, with many other medical facilities rendered completely unusable. Meanwhile, Mayotte’s Muslim-majority population, adhering to the tradition of burying the dead within 24 hours, has complicated efforts to establish an accurate death toll.
Mayotte: a natural disaster in French territory
Located more than 5,000 miles from mainland France, Mayotte is a name you’ve probably skimmed past in geography class—if it came up at all. Tucked in the Indian Ocean, the territory lies between Madagascar and Mozambique. Its two main islands, Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, make up an area just slightly larger than Washington, D.C. Yet it’s home to over 300,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated territories under French control.
Mayotte’s history is as turbulent as the cyclone that hit it. Colonized by France in 1843, the island stayed under French rule even as its neighboring islands in the Comoros archipelago voted for independence in 1975. Today, Mayotte remains a French department, though life here starkly contrasts the more familiar trappings of Paris or Provence.
Mayotte challenges hit hard
Unlike the bustling tourist hubs of nearby Madagascar, Mayotte is better known for its deep poverty and growing social tensions. Three out of four residents live below France’s poverty line, and unemployment hovers around 37%, far above mainland France’s rate of 7.4%. Still, many from neighbouring Comoros risk the perilous sea crossing to Mayotte, drawn by the promise of French social benefits.
Cyclone Chido laid bare these vulnerabilities. In many parts of the island, makeshift homes were flattened, roads became impassable, and access to clean water is now a distant memory. Scenes of devastation – overturned boats, submerged vehicles, and collapsed buildings – paint a grim picture of life after the storm.
Slow response to Mayotte disaster
France has scrambled to respond. Hundreds of police and rescue workers have been deployed, with airlifts bringing relief supplies from the nearby French territory of Réunion. But logistical challenges remain immense. Mayotte’s airport is closed to civilian flights, and much of the island is inaccessible, leaving stranded communities waiting for aid.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis, while authorities continue to airlift food, water, and medical supplies. Yet many are already criticising the lack of preparation, pointing to long-standing infrastructure issues and the territory’s poor living conditions as factors that worsened the disaster’s impact.
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