Hundreds feared dead as Cyclone Chido wreaks havoc on the French island of Mayotte.

Sur.vivors describe 'apocalyptic scenes' following the most powerful storm to strike the Indian Ocean territory in nearly a century.

A photo provided by NGO Medecins du Monde shows a devastated hill on the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, after Cyclone Chido caused extensive damage with reports of several fatalities [Medecins du Monde via AP]

At least several hundred people are feared to have died after the most powerful cyclone in nearly a century tore through the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Saturday, uprooting trees, destroying homes, and severely damaging the already fragile infrastructure of the impoverished archipelago.

Rescue teams have been sent to the islands, located between Mozambique and Madagascar, but their efforts are expected to be hampered by the destruction of airports and power lines in an area that already faces chronic shortages of clean drinking water.

In an interview with Mayotte's la 1ere TV station on Sunday, the archipelago's prefect, François-Xavier Bieuville, confirmed that 11 deaths had been reported, but he warned that the toll would likely rise dramatically in the coming days.

"I think there will certainly be several hundred, possibly reaching a thousand or even several thousand," he said.

Bieuville also noted that the final death toll would be difficult to determine, as many of the island's Muslim residents traditionally bury their dead within 24 hours.

Hundreds believed to be dead as Cyclone Chido devastates French islands of Mayotte – video

Determining an accurate death toll will be even more challenging, as France's interior ministry estimates that around 100,000 people are living in Mayotte without legal status.

Many of these individuals were reluctant to leave their homes to seek help, “fearing it might be a trap” to have them removed from the island, according to Ousseni Balahachi, a former nurse.

Earlier, the mayor of Mayotte’s capital, Mamoudzou, Ambdilwahedou Soumaila, told Agence France-Presse that nine people were critically injured in the cyclone and fighting for their lives in the hospital, while 246 others were seriously wounded.

“The hospital is damaged, the schools are damaged. Houses are completely destroyed,” he said, adding that the cyclone had “left nothing untouched.”

Ibrahim, a local resident, described "apocalyptic scenes" as he navigated the island, clearing blocked roads as he went.

Mayotte's 320,000 residents were placed under lockdown on Saturday as Cyclone Chido approached, bringing winds of at least 226 kilometers per hour (140 mph).

Aerial footage released by French gendarmerie forces revealed the devastation, with hundreds of makeshift houses destroyed and scattered across the hills of one of Mayotte's islands—a hotspot for illegal immigration from neighboring Comoros.

France's Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, is scheduled to visit Mayotte on Monday. He will be accompanied by 160 soldiers and firefighters, who will reinforce the 110 personnel already on the ground.

Authorities in Réunion, a French territory in the Indian Ocean located about 1,400 kilometers from Mayotte on the other side of Madagascar, announced that medical teams and equipment were being dispatched by air and sea to assist in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido.

On Sunday at around 3:30 p.m. local time, a first aid plane landed in Mayotte carrying three tonnes of medical supplies, blood for transfusions, and 17 medical personnel. Two additional military aircraft were expected to follow. A navy patrol ship from Réunion was also set to depart with personnel and equipment, including resources for the electricity provider EDF.

Patrice Latron, the prefect of Réunion, stated that authorities aimed to establish an air and sea bridge to Mayotte. Approximately 800 more rescuers are expected to arrive in the coming days, along with over 80 tonnes of supplies, either flown in or delivered by ship. Key priorities include restoring electricity and ensuring access to clean drinking water.

Mayotte, the poorest French territory and the poorest region in the European Union, faced widespread destruction. Entire neighborhoods of metal shacks and huts were flattened, trees uprooted, boats overturned or sunk, and electricity cut off across large areas.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged assistance on Sunday.

Cyclone Chido also struck the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar. In Comoros, authorities reported that 11 fishers who went to sea earlier in the week were missing.

The intense tropical cyclone made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, where it threatens to impact 2.5 million people in the country’s northern regions. Aid agencies have warned of significant loss of life and widespread destruction. According to local officials, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province with a population of about 2 million, has been severely affected, with many homes, schools, and healthcare facilities damaged or destroyed. The current death toll in Mozambique stands at three.

Cyclone season in the region typically runs from December to March. In recent years, strong cyclones have repeatedly devastated parts of southeastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Cyclone Idai claimed more than 1,300 lives in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe in 2019, while Cyclone Freddy killed over 1,000 people across multiple countries in 2023.

These cyclones bring risks of flooding, landslides, and stagnant water that can lead to deadly outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever, and malaria.

Climate studies suggest that cyclones in the region are becoming more severe due to the ongoing climate crisis. Poor nations in southern Africa, which contribute only marginally to global emissions, often face catastrophic humanitarian crises as a result. This has amplified their calls for greater support from wealthier nations to address the impacts of climate change.

This report includes contributions from Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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